A song I hadn’t heard in a while came on this morning.  It dates back to 1980 and it’s called: Take That Look Off Your Face.  One line in particular triggered a thought in my mind.  The line in the song is: Well, my fair-weather friend, you’re wrong again!

The context of the song does not matter actually but what made me think was the expression “fair-weather friend”, which describes the type of people who act as friends in the good times or when they need something from you (when the weather is good in your world, so to speak) but, the moment your circumstances change, they abandon you and seek their business elsewhere.

I am surprised at the many references to fair-weather friends in popular culture.  Don Williams sang about it in his song ‘Fair-weather Friends’ with these words: ‘Fair-weather friends, fair-weather sailors; will leave you stranded on life’s shore

So did Emilie Autumn who said: ‘My fair-weather friend, absent in the end; the one thing I can count on, is nothing much at all.’

As my circumstances are now changing, I am already noticing my own set of fair-weather friends gradually melting like snowflakes drifting over open fire.  There were times when such people came calling for help, advice, comfort, or just a good time.  They asked, they requested, they sought, they thanked, they swore loyalty, reciprocity, and longevity, then they left.  One day, they woke up and checked the temperature scale in my world and it seemed cold and getting colder so, like winter birds, they started to migrate south.

To be honest, I am neither sad nor disappointed, the kind of change I am going through is still uncertain and the disappearance of these characters is probably a gift to me. All I can say to them is: Thank you and safe flying.