THE CHARACTERS I HAVE MET IN MY LIFE
and later have become either friend / great friends/ mates
DEFINITIONS
at least my way of putting things
A friend is some one you meet periodically, could be at the market / library and you pass the time of day with a smile or wave to, even the girl at the checkout when you are a regular, a friend to have is the barman at the local watering hole, also some friends will buy you a beer and laugh with you,
and then stab you in the back later, so as they say be careful how you pick your friends

Great friends are those you meet regularly and have a conversation with/ flash photo's of your family to and then admire theirs/,Some you meet at work in the lunch room /work alongside, also at social outings with the family/those who listen to your woes and vice versa/those type of people you are quite happy to be with , the biggest being someone you long remember long after they have left the scene.

Now mates – a real mate can be hard to find, but when you have appreciate it. The first is your partner--(some might disagree with their own experiences)---after50 years and 2 wives this is just my view, okay there are times when things get rough, but thats life.
Another real mate is one who stands by you in thick or thin, share his last dollar with you with a smile,one who you can argue with and laugh together with afterwards, one who will listen to all your troubles with patience, gives advice needed or not, and most of all be there.

Last but not least to be a mate you must be the same.