| A Brief History of the Application The idea for this form originated in March, 1995, when I felt angry over the lack of contact from friendships that I had made in Phoenix. Having lived in Phoenix for 10 years, I developed friendships there that I wanted to continue, even after moving back to Iowa in the Fall of 1994. Several months passed with what seemed like only one-way communication. That is: it seemed to me that I was always the one who initiated a phone call or letter, and if perchance I would leave a voice mail, I never was called back. The result was that I became angry. I said, "To hell with them!" I declared that if any of those "so-called friends" wanted to be friends with me anymore, they would have to fill out an application! Hence, the Application for Friendship was born. Since then, two other related forms have evolved from this original, the Change in Friendship Notification form and the Friendship With Earth form. The latter two are still in the development stage, but will be posted after they are done. And as for the terms used in the application, you've got to realize that they are my definitions and that yours may differ. I've chosen 'levels' of friendship based on how closely held is the information to me, or the depth of feelings going on with me that I've decided to confide to my friend, and how often I spend time with him or her, whether that be on the phone or by mail or in person . For instance: a casual friend is someone who I visit with on the phone and feel okay about relating to him or her just how my job is going; a personal friend is someone whom I feel comfortable inviting over to my place and he or she (hopefully) reciprocates. An acquaintance is someone whom I've met once or twice, or who I see on occasion when I frequent the office she or he works at, or when we attend the same church functions. Also, an acquaintance would be when I attend an activity or event and I run into someone I've seen before at the same event & feel okay talking with, but not feel that I know the person well enough to invite over to my place. A business friendship is one which primarily evolves around your work, and may extend into occasional luncheons, or may not go any further than the place of work. A close friend knows me better than nearly anyone else who knows me, perhaps even more than one of my brothers or sisters; someone whom I trust enough to confide in about very personal details of my life, things that I want to sort out outloud with someone, maybe even some feelings that I don't trust revealing (just yet) with a friend I consider as an intimate friend. An intimate friend is, naturally, that person I trust most to be emotionally revealing with, or sexually involved with. Keep in mind that these definitions are mine, and your definitions or adjectives to describe "friend" may differ from these. There are other types of friendships that I'm considering on this form. Among them are: drinking friend, lunch and shopping friend, theater friend, work buddy, fishing buddy. There are friends that I have who I share my confusion with and talk with in order to sort out emotions (definitely an intimate friend in my book) would be an intimate in the emotional arena of my life, but might not be someone that I share my fishing trip stories with. |