We all need someone we can leeeaan on, and if you want, you can lean on me

Last week, I spent a considerable amount of time with one of my guy friends, partying away his recent sorrows over the break-up with his live-in girlfriend of three years. I needed someone to entertain me; he needed a shoulder to cry on. We were a perfect match.

Sometimes, it seems really hard to be a guy. They bottle everything up, and rarely have the outlet that girls have - a constant shoulder to cry on, the invite to always talk about relationships, love, sex, fights, break-ups and make-ups. When I have relationship problems, I usually just bounce from friend to friend, talking about what bothers me. Each girl friend makes me feel better in a different way and tells me the things I need to hear, until I can feel whole again. Guys don't always have that support system.

So I nodded, asked questions when I needed to and mostly just let him talk. Some of the things he was saying hit home in a huge way. Break-ups are so painful. No matter if you're male, female, tall, vertically challenged, pretty or beat with an ugly stick. It's almost overwhelming when you're in the midst of a relationship - even if it feels so far away from the breaking point - it's scary to think about being there again. I guess it's a leap we all take by giving our heart to someone.

"It's like we're total strangers," he said.

I groaned. "That is the.worst," I responded. And boy did I mean it. Is there anything crappier than feeling like the person you've spent 900 plus days with feels like a stranger on the street? The person who has listened to you vent over coworkers, made you waffles in the morning before you're even half awake, given you butterfly kisses and shared inside jokes with you that no one would ever understand. The person who is half of your happiest memories, your biggest laughter, the photos that make you smile, the vacations that make you reminisce. Someone you've shared your ups and downs with - death of family members and family pets or graduations and promotions at work. And then POOF. Something happens when you break up, and you're left mumbling responses that don't mean anything, avoiding each other, keeping secrets, averting eyes and treating each other like you're not two people in the world who know each other best.

It's just so sad. And as hard as it is to listen to, and as much as it dredges up a million painful feelings in my past, I'd do it 100 times over for anyone of my friends. Sometimes, we all need someone who we can relate to or a shoulder to cry on.

"Thank you. I just wanted to let you know that our friendship means a lot to me," he sent the next day in an e-mail.

Tell me that doesn't make it all worth it.

Currently Feeling: Short on time even though I'm not working?! I need to prioritize my days better.
Currently Anticipating: Attempt number two at date night for The Hangover tomorrow.
Currently Loving: Scrambles in the A.M. with chives, cheese, ham and mushrooms, and a side of cottage cheese and peaches. So healthy and yummy!