I believe that friends fall into a number of categories.
There are friends who add to my life, they bring joy and laughter. These friends are very special. I am amazed and blessed as I have found friends who add something to my life and I have found that I have added something to their life. These friends know when to let you cry and when to slap you out of self pity. They are the ones who are there to share in lifes triumph and to wipe tears.
There are friends who neither add nor drain. All they do is take up space and time.
There are friends who drain all from you. They talk only of themself and of the things that impact upon their life and their dreams. They don't notice when you have a bad day or even when you tune them out and are staring over their shoulder while they tell you a story that they have told you before. These are the friends that are kept out of a sense of obligation or pity.
I have more friends that add to my life, my joy and my dreams than I do who drain me of all that I am. It does not matter how long these special friends are in my life, all that matters is that they are. And while they are here, I will love and cherish them with all them with all that I am.