Funny that I find this question after talking about this yesterday and realizing something important about a friend I have.

Friends come in many flavors. Some just entertain you and some make your life better.
Some you can call on for help and other, most really, are more fair weather than the few others.

Not all friends have to be of the same caliber. I say this because I am just now, at 59 years old, learning this.

So with all that said .... I have realized that the most important, by far, quality that defines a truly worthy and notable friend is they have to have honor.

The have to respect themselves. Take pride in standing by their word.
Be respectable and set standards and stick by them.

I might as well finish this obscure and convoluted comment. LOL

I have always had lots of friends and also never learned how to ask for help. I was actually raised being humiliated for needing help so I have spent most of my life doing everything myself.

I am odd as hell so I only have a very few friends that have stuck around.

Recently I found my self in a tough spot and was in need of help.

Two friends stepped up and picked up every ball I have been dropping for the past few years without a glance and without me having to ask.

They just happen to be one friend that has always impressed me with being a man of his word and nothing can bend that and a close friend of his I recently have gotten closer to in the past few days and found out he too holds himself to a higher standard.

You can have screw around friends that you can't depend on but still are fun.

But to have a true friend ... wow.