I think some friendships are like David E. Kelley shows. When they
premiere you are completely smitten and get caught up in the newness and
excitement of it all. You're intoxicated by the freshness of something so original,
bold and daring. You have an immediate connection that feels everlasting.

After a few seasons, things start to change. There is a mix up in the
cast. Plotlines get recycled. Once beloved characters start doing
things that seem, well...out of character. Their actions don't feel true
and authentic. It's no longer the show it once was and no matter how many
flashback episodes are aired, it never will be again.

Eventually, you lose interest and start watching something else. Before
you know it, the show is cancelled and you didn't even have any interest in
watching the finale or you just missed it altogether.

Last year, two of my friendships like this ended. These were people I
loved and cared for deeply and in many ways still do and always will. Both
ended without a word spoken about what was going on.

For a long time I blamed myself. For an even longer time I blamed the
other. It took me a while to realize none of us were to blame. It
was what it was and when its time was up, there was nothing anyone could have
said or done to change what was inevitable.

After they were over, it was very painful and troubling. I was caught up
in the notion that all friendships last forever. That is simply not the
case. Some people you meet, you will have in your life always.
Others have time limits. Maybe a year. Maybe two. Maybe
ten. Some will fade away slowly and some will be ripped away.

Some may say this is an extremely cynical view of friendships. I
disagree. I think is purely an honest one. It doesn't make those
short term friendships any less important or significant. If anything it
should reaffirm that we should relish every moment we have with the people we
love because we may not have any moments again tomorrow. While friendships
may end and time passes, you will always have the reruns of memories of halcyon
days to watch over and over.