DEAR ABBY: A reader wrote you asking for some thoughts on friendship. I would like to share mine. It is one of the best descriptions of true friendship I have ever read. It was given to me by a friend; I do not know the author.
FRIENDSHIP
Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person.
Having neither to weigh thoughts
Nor measure words, but pouring them
All right out -- just as they are --
Chaff and grain together --
Certain that a faithful hand will
Take and sift them,
Keeping what is worth keeping,
And with a breath of kindness
Blow the rest away.
-- DICK IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.
DEAR DICK: Noble words, indeed, and well worth sharing. Thank you for sending them my way -- and Merry Christmas.