friend

from askoxford.com

• noun
1 a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations.

2 a familiar or helpful thing.

3 a person who supports a particular cause or organization.



2009 has been a wonderful year and I am thankful.
I made new friends.
I became closer with certain friends.
I discovered the few odds who are real friends.

I certainly lost a couple of good friends.