You know I've been thinking about you. I find this hard to say cause I'm afraid that you might take this the wrong way. I want you to remember that I value our friendship and I care about you so much. Since we became friends, if something comes up on your side of the fence... a problem or something... it's either you tell me about it or you don't and oftentimes you don't. And I never ask. But I do wish that sometimes you'd tell me. It's not because I tell you about mine... this isn't tit for tat. Although sometimes when I tell you of all my troubles, I ask myself if you haven't got far too much to think about yourself and I can only guess. But this isn't about me at all. I'm here for you in more ways than you think. I know... I mean what can I do anyway?

But sometimes it does help to tell a friend... if only to hear yourself think out loud and sometimes that too is good cause it helps you come to terms with how you really feel about a situation or whatever. And if I can help you in that manner I'd be grateful to oblige. I do not meddle, that's not my way... but I'm a good listener and a warm friend. I can put my arm around your shoulder and let you know I'm here and that I'm on your side. I hope I can do more than that and if I can, you can always count on me. But often this is all I can offer and I hope you consider me enough of a friend to take it. Please don't think too that I'm trying to get further into your life than you'd want me to. Believe me, I know my place. I'm a friend... and one who cares about you.

I am troubled when you are troubled. When I don't hear from you for days I worry about you... I worry that you are sick or that you might be hurt... I know that you'd be taken care of but I really don't want anything like that happening to you. When you say you have a problem, and I'm always totally clueless about it, sometimes I don't know how to come off... what to talk about. It would be nice to know that I can be what you need in any given moment... like maybe you need some cheering up, a joke, or you just need somebody to ramble on if you need to get your mind off things, or if you just need some quiet company. All of us have that troubled side... boy, do I know that. I want to get to know that part of you too, if you will let me.

Life isn't always cheerful and we know it. I have ears, I can listen. I have brains, I can understand. I have a heart, I can feel for you. Make use of me cause I want you to. If I'm the last choice, I'd still be honored.

And it's about friendship... always about friendship...

Wouldn't it be nice to hear this from somebody? I've always wanted to hear these things said to me and I've always wanted to say these to somebody... a friend, a brother, a sister, Papa. Sometimes we get the urge and we come up with the words but other things always get in the way... time, distance, jobs and the many different things we clutter our lives with. We may get so immersed in daily living and matters of importance... the things that don't last. And often we don't know that these things don't last... yet.

But I guess everybody's gotta do what they gotta do. Me... this is what I choose... I choose to be a friend. I choose to care.