I was thinking today of the qualities I admire in friends. Generally, I am attracted to people who are genuinely nice, a little bit geeky (even if they deny it, which most do not) and a lot fun. Expanding from this idea, was, what makes me a good friend? I remember having a conversation with one of my former room mates, about how I would be an excellent girlfriend. I think, other than sexual things, which should obviously be excluded from platonic relationships, most of them would apply to this thought process.
1) I am always there in an emergency. There have been many times when a friend has needed me for support, and I’ve dropped everything to be with them. I will give two examples, which both happened between May and August of 2007. One time, Anny was sick with some sort of (Dorito -related, ha ha) throat ailment. She couldn’t speak French very well, and we were in the middle of small town Quebec. So, who dropped everything, and scoured the house for activities (notebooks, comics, novels, sudoku puzzles) to take to the hospital for her to do? Me. Who stayed with her as a valuable source of entertainment and translation for the next four hours? Me. Who walked back home, and then back to the hospital because Anny forgot her Care Card? Well, me and Anny, but still. Example two: same hospital, a few weeks later, Joelle has dislocated her shoulder (AGAIN x2) while swimming. And I stood by her bedside, and stroked her hair and sang her songs for the next six hours, while starving, with my wet swimming suit under my skirt and t-shirt. I rule.
2) I love to bake goodies! Okay, in some cases, this may be a bad friend move. For example, right after the New Year! You certainly do not want me around when you are trying to lose weight! Now, my cooking is… alright. But nothing gourmet, that’s for sure! Which is why I shocked my friends, by revealing my secret talent- baking. My peanut butter cookies are to murder over, and apparently, so are my chocolate chip, although I’ve never been a huge fan. Chocolate cake? Yes. Orgasmic, yes. And, on the lesser calorie scale, my home-made bread is mouth watering and heavenly.
3) I am a nice balance of crazy and sensibility. If you know me at all, you may have realized that I’m a little bit insane. I don’t have many inhibitions, and I am definitely proud to be the centre of attention. I like to let loose, and I am a cheap drunk, ha ha. On several occasions I may have allowed myself to go a bit too far with the fizzy drinks, but the cool thing about me, is that “too far,” is two drinks, and I have the amazing ability to sober up at the first sign of trouble. This ability has allowed me to get my friends out of danger each time that it may have been a threat, and has helped me to learn valuable life lessons. It’s also a lovely balance, in that, I am crazy enough to be spontaneous, to have fun, be loud, dance, invent new games, and yet, sensible enough to know when a friend needs me, to sit quietly, and listen. I am an excellent listener.
Of course, there are many other reasons why I am an excellent friend, and maybe you’ll find out about more of them as we go along.
What makes you an excellent friend?
I can keep secrets
And I think I’m pretty understanding, and you can always have fun with me 
(Usually the making fun of other people kind, but still fun xD)
What makes an excellent friend is someone who can just be there for you.
Somehow, I can’t imagine you as those very listen-y types of people. No offense.
I won’t sleep with your boyfriend. That’s what makes me a great friend
Those qualities you listed – you DO sound like an amazing friend, and good for you! Good friends are really hard to find, especially those you could rely on.
I guess what I’d say makes me a good friend is I will go out of my way to make sure my friend is okay, either physically or mentally (but I suppose more mentally). As in, I try never to give up on them especially when most people do, and I always put in 110% of the effort.
Of course, it tends to backfire on me because I end up expecting my friends to do the same for me, but when they don’t, I usually end up being disappointed, to say the least. :\
Ash! TP reunion tonight at 7 PST. So sorry for the late notice. Hope you can make it!
..Do you have a screen name?
You do sound like an amazing friend, specially if you can bake! I always end up burning everything I bake
I don’t know what would make me a good friend. At least, nothing that sets me apart. Now I have something to think about.
I think I’m an overall cool person, lots of fun times, reliable, and a good listener/advice-giver.
Your level of sanity sounds perfect
I listen, I am always there, I keep secrets, I don’t take sides, I will go out of my way to make sure my friend is okay, plus a lot of other little things that I just can’t think of right now.
We missed you! We want to have another one soon though, so hopefully you will be able to make that one.
And yes, I was rather impressed with you crazy Canadians in Juno