Was just thinking about a friend I met when I was about 25, and we are both still alive. We are still friends, but don't see much of each other anymore, distance, time and life changes.
And I was just realizing, all along the time that we were close with each other, she was in some ways the most literal friend, or human, I have ever known!
I was thinking about that evening, many decades ago, alone in my apartment and the phone rang. It was my friend and she was distraught, just broke up with her boyfriend and wanted to know if I'd like to go out to the Crows Nest with her.
Of course, I said, yes. Not but a couple of minutes later, my 10 years younger "friend" called and said he was lonely and could he come over. What a dilemma.
So, I told my friend, Bob, he could join us, but my other friend was really distraught about her breakup, so don't try to hold hands with me or show affection because I don't want her to feel alone. No problem he says.
Great jazz band, a few drinks, and next thing I know, my friend(s) were each gazing into each others eyes. Next they were groping and kissing each other.
I was the driver. I just went out into my car and lay down on the back seat and napped, or tried to, until they came back out. But I felt betrayed and pretty pissed off.
The moral of the story? I had told my friend that Bob was just a friend, and we enjoyed some intimacy together, but it was definitely not a serious relationship. I had told him the same thing. They each got something from each other at that moment that I could not have given.
Now I can laugh about it! Because there was no betrayal.
It's really, really important to be as certain as possible that one is telling ones whole truth to their friends. Many do take our words literally, as they should.
Oh, and when I lost my business, and all material things, many years later, she was the one that helped me.