What makes a friend?

I have found that many people have many different definition of a friend. So I was wondering....what is your definition of a friend?

Mine is simple I guess. A friend is someone you can be yourself around 100% of the time and if you do or say something that is inappropriate or shocking (which I seem to do frequently) they still want to be there for you and not judge you. A friend is someone I love and care about. Someone I can confide in and trust it will stay with that person. In return, I am that kind of friend. I don't talk crap about you, I love you, even when you act like an ass, because that's the way I view a friendship.

I'm like a lioness with her cubs when it comes to my friends. I hold them near and dear. If you cross them, then you have crossed me too. I take my job as a friend very seriously. I don't do it lightly so I guess in my mind others don't either. But I have learned, sadly, that is not always the case.

I don't have many friends. I have lots of people I like to be around and spend time with, but as far as people who can "take" me as I am and that I care and love; I really don't have that many and I'm okay with that. I don't need 100 friends who do not view friendship the same way I do. I prefer to have my few friends to many.

So I guess in short, when I say you are my friend, it's a pretty big deal...to me anyways!!