Fair Weather Friends

The majority of us have friends, the friends we have known since childhood, the friends we would do anything for; the friend that would do anything for us. Most of us have friends that are for specific situations, the friends we party with, the friend who will help us paint our house; the friend we can call at two in the morning because we just got dumped. Our lives might not be complete without our friends. I would bet money, large sums in fact; that we all have at least one fair weather friend.
We can always count on the fair weather friend to be right by our side at the best of times. When we go on that first date, and it ends up being a double date for “security” purposes; we can count on our fair weather friend being there showing their full support. When we have an extra ticket to whatever sporting event it may be, we need not look any further than our fair weather friend. Who will be the first to arrive at our house on Super bowl Sunday or game seven of the NBA playoffs?
Our trustworthy fair weather friend of course! When we need a friend that will drink the most drinks, and eat the most food at our social events, we can just call our fair weather friend. If good times are to be had, our fair weather friend will not disappoint us. While our true friends will be there through thick and thin, our fair weather friend will avoid us like a plague in times of crisis. Our true friends will give us that shoulder to cry on, they will tell us the truth whether it hurts our feelings or not.

Our fair weather friend will not show up until there is fun to be had. It is probably safe to say that a good number of our “real” friends are mutual friends; we might notice that no one else in our circle really associates with our fair weather friend unless we are involved. When we encounter the occasional financial hardship, our trustworthy fair weather friend is not ever able to help, however if they need some money we may the first person they ask. If there is any situation, of any importance, we should not call our fair weather friend.
They always have reasons why they cannot help us at this particular time, but they will be there for us the next time. 3 As time goes on we may notice ourselves putting more and more distance between us and our fair weather friend. We start to see them for the opportunist that that they are,and, we may find that spending time around them now requires a concentrated effort on our part. From time to time we may still invite them along for some miscellaneous event, because after all they do know how to have fun.
When we are bored and just need someone to have idle chit-chat with there is a chance that they can still get a call. But, if there is a situation of any real consequence; that requires a real friend, we will find ourselves scrolling past their name in the address book of our cell phone. At some point and time in the relationship, our fair weather friend will end up like that one toy that was our favorite as a child; they will be put on the shelf. We will give up the flashing lights and amusing sounds for something that is truly engaging.
The object that once entertained our shallow senses will be replaced by one that satisfies needs that are more in depth. Even though we will call upon our fair weather friend less and less, when they have an opportunity to use us to their advantage, they will continue to seek us out without hesitation. Because even if they feel the relationship changing, they will not want to give up their “true friend”, the one they could count on to be there through thick and thin; the one they could always borrow money from and take their time paying it back.
The one their life would not be complete without. The fair weather friend has a very short shelf life; they often wonder why they cannot keep friends. They do not realize that a friendship is a two way street. They wonder why, with them being such a good friend, that their calls are no longer answered, why their messages are no longer returned. They can always find fault with the other person to explain why this always happens to them. What they cannot, and will not ever understand, is why they always end up with fair weather friends.