Young and sweet, only 17

Friday Five:

Who was your first best friend?
Margie and I am still in touch with her via email. We were about 4 years old when we became best buds. We lost touch for many years but located each other a few years ago. We aren't as close, but are still friends.

Who have been some of the most influential people in your life?
My mama was the most.
My maternal grandmother.
One of my paternal aunts.
A youth minister when I was in high school who taught me acceptance of those who are different. He always said as humans we have more in common than we have different.
A college professor who taught me that often times what seems "bad" is really an illness, but that there can also be those who are so indifferent that nothing matters to them, not even themselves.

Do you usually have one best friend or a lot of close friends?
I usually have both - one best friend and a lot of other friends, too, though not as close.

Do you believe people of the opposite sex can be best friends and not lovers?
Yes I do. I had one like that. It was a joke that when I got married, my spouse had to accept him along with me.

Have you ever fallen in love with a friend?
Yes and I have been married to him for five years next month.