Seeing old friends is great

I have been back in Quebec for about 5 days now and I realize that I have great friends. I mean, you don`t realize it sometimes in the moment but you are very lucky to hold on to a few friends for 18+ years.
We were sitting for brunch on Monday and I was sitting with 2 friends who have known me for 18 years and 20 years respectively. We have all grown up to be parents, all three of us have 2 kids. We were sitting, thinking about our inside stories that only a few understand, thinking about how we have all become professionals and that we have come a long way and we probably have done so because we had each other.
I mean, I don`t quite uderstand what in the blue hell posseses people to be my friends for that long but hey, it`s their loss! Seriously, every single time I see them, I feel so much better about myself. They make me realize my accomplishments, my realizations in my life, and how we`ve come a long way. This may sound narcistic, but I truly don`t care!
They have certainly done so too. They even report that I may have helped them! Who would have thunk it??? Having gone our own problems at different times in our lives, we have found a way to be there for each other, no matter the distance or how busy we were. Strength does come in numbers and I believe the longer a person has known you, the better equipped they are to remind you how great you actually have it.
I realized also how, as a father, I do try to go above and beyond. Both my friends told me how they find me to be dedicated to my girls and how their husbands have not ever been alone for a long period of time with their kids (like taking a paternal leave of absence, alone, with a baby). It is , by no means, a criticism to them. They are great guys and great partners. I admire both of these men for different reasons. I mean, they also put up with my friends, I got to give them credit for that! But their kind words make me feel good, because God knows I feel so incompetent!
I mean other guys, especially in my line of work, have made fun of me taking a paternal leave, especially in large groups (insert crack of the whip here). I mean, it isn`t really manly to do so. One thing I did notice is that, privately, these same guys come to me and tell me that what I am doing is right for my girls and that secretly, they wished they would have done it or, in some instances, admit freely that they couldn`t do it. Older guys also tell me that I should cherish it and that, in hindsight, they wished they would have done it. And FYI...I will give no names up, unless a large number of unsequential bills come into my hand.
I also have another two friends who have known me for 20+ years who happen to be guys, who have openly supported me and given me credit. I saw one of them this week and I am hoping to see the other before the week ends. At the end of the day, my friends, who have been there for me even though I have been gone for almost 12 years from Quebec, always find a way to give me a bigger smile when I see them. And that is so needed when taking care of two young girls.

P.S. If you need an address to send the money, let me know.