Woo hoo, Shiny! Sounds like you and I have the same kind of friends. I have 5 who comprise my inner circle and quite a few on the outskirts who are also true friends.
Pamila, your H can't be a substitute for a girl friend! He can supplement this, as Shiny so eloquently stated, but there is NO substitute for a good girl friend.
I say "HEAR HEAR" to everything Shiny said about loyalty!
My long standing best friend and godmother to D10 is someone I've known since 5th grade and been inseparable ever since. I can't tell you how many sleepovers we've had (too numerous to count) and how many fights she's been referee between me and my sister (who also loves her like a sister)... our escapades could fill annals that nobody could ever finish.
Serendipity... 5 years ago we were having monster medical problems with D7 and Mr. W. and D10 had taken off for his parents house. She was flying here from the west coast (back to DC) via Denver and did a weekend stopover. She was my cheerleader when I received horrid medical news about my toddler, and she brought me out the most disgusting paper towels so she could wipe away the snot and tears (that was all that was available). Then she planted a big kiss on my forehead and told me she loved me.
I have a nice guest room in my house, but since Mr. Wonderful was gone, when she walked in the door I told her to bring her bags to my bedroom... because we were going to have a girls old-fashioned sleepover. Complete with nail polish, music, a book of erotica she bought at a yard sale for 10 cents (because we still howl at what people write about sex), some chick flicks and popcorn. I don't think we turned the lights out before 3 am the entire time she was here!
Nobody could ever understand me like she does, and nobody ever will.
GIRLS RULE!
Time for a group hug.... sorry for the hijack, Pam.
Betsey
"There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
Betsey 
