Anton, I truly feel a friend is ALL the things you mentioned above. However, most of all they are someone you can count on regardless of circumstances. I would find it hard to class someone as a friend who knew you weren't well but never inquired. I also believe you can have friends you don't stay in contact with on even a monthly basis, but when you see them you tend to pick up on where you left off. However, to me the most telling sign of a friend is one who treats you as they want to be treated, with love, respect and caring. We all get too busy in this day and age and need to stop and make an effort to contact and rekindle old friendships, or repair broken ones. Family and friends are the greatest gifts in life.
