Friendship is something we develop along life’s road. Some friendships blossom from living in the same neighbourhood. Some develop from going to the same schools, or going to the same church, or sometimes from the workplace.
But, regardless of how or when it happened or blossomed, it is what makes some people close to our hearts. Some remain friends for life, some drift apart, some betray you and some can become your worst enemy.
In times gone, good friends usually invited each other to family functions — First Communions, Christening, Birthdays, Weddings, parties and various functions. But today, in these times, we live in a society where close friends seem to drift away, with not even an occasional visit. Alas, when in need nobody seems to be there to assist or support.
Your best friend has no problem trying to sleep with your woman, or disrespecting your children, or talking-you-bad behind your back, or lying to blacken your name.
In fact, the only time you see past friends these days is at a national function like a cricket match or calypso contest, and you may not see them yourself. But most will gather for your funeral — and usually for the blocko that will follow.
The reason why so many close friends have disappeared is beyond my understanding but one thing is for sure: friendship of yesteryear is very different from friendships today.
Today, boys who went to school together and played together are gunning each other down. Friends are stealing from each other, deceiving each other, even screwing up each other.
The good times of yesteryears seem to have disappeared into thin air. If you need a ride, despite the fact that most of your friends have a vehicle, you can’t get one at no time at all, not even in an emergency. If you are broke and need a helping hand, you’d better find a stranger than expect an old friend to help.
So much has changed and so-little has remained as in past times, so little trust and honesty is left among friends. It has become a ‘See About Yourself’ (Wer Pou Choow) time, because friends are far apart and don’t care about each other anymore.
As to whether that is good or bad, I leave that to your own judgment. But the way I see it the good friends of yesteryear are far-different from friends of today. Togetherness is a far-fetched concept and having a true buddy is a thing of the past. And being your brother’s keeper is also a thing of the past.
Now, we only keep in contact with each other on social media. We have all become Online Friends. Having a laugh, sharing a joke or relating to past times, or having a drink together, all have become a thing of the past.
True friendship, sadly, is a thing of the past, so we are all strangers to each other, in these times.
Yes folks, it’ not only the climate that’s changing. We also have advanced ‘Time Change’ too as a new world reality!