Friends

Lynn Ruth, when I was in my teens I wanted to be everyone's friend and have as many friends as possible. In my twenties I realized that having a few good friends is a very special thing. Now that I have almost hit 40, I have become way more laidback and realize life is not supposed to be a popularity contest. The number of real friends, that is, the people I could call in the middle of the night because of an emergency, I can probably count on one hand, two hands at the most. I don't find this disillusioning -- on the contrary: there is something profoundly satisfying about deep friendships and they nourish the gaps where other more shallow friends might be. Americans are quick to call someone a friend-- in Holland we make a distinction between "kennis" (acquaintance) and (vriend) "friend". When you call someone a friend, you have been to their house and you've laughed and cried with them. All the rest are acquaintances. In a sense this distinction is more accurate.

So don't feel bad about losing the potential friend, i.e. the woman who ripped you off. She was never your friend to begin with and you're better off without her and her tricks. Your friend, Inez.