I knew there was a moment in my life when I yearned, like I thought I was supposed to, for “the one,” but my true inclination is to yearn for the many. And not just loves, relationships, romances—but friends and close-knit family.

Have any of you ever had a best friend -- that person who knows you better than anyone else and who loves you unconditionally, flaws and all?  The person who shares the ups and downs with you and never complains when you don't always get the lesson that life is offering?  The person who is always in your corner and always in your prayers? 

Years ago, during a particularly difficult time in my life, I spent the day with a friend. She didn't have a car, so I picked her up and took her to lunch and shopping in a nearby city. She complained all day long. She had to walk to work. She hated living in the city. The grocery near her was terrible. And oh, enough about her - what did I think about her? I was a counselor - didn't I have any advice? She never asked me how I was doing, or responded to anything I said about how much my life may or may not have sucked at the time.

When I left South Florida for film school in Tallahassee, my life changed dramatically in millions of ways.  A true turning point from which I didn't turn back, but only moved forward.  Many things were gained in my journey to Los Angeles, but my friendship base back home was left behind in Florida, and I've only been back for two weekends in five years. My friends have always been my family.  I suspect, at least, that what I have historically gotten from friendship is what most people experience with family.  The catch for me being, of course, that my friends are not family, and my friends have families of their own.

I was scrolling through the most recent photos taken by my Flickr contacts when BlogHer contributing editor Grace Davis blew me away with a set of her friends' impromptu wedding. Courtesy of an online ordination service, Grace also just happened to be the officiant. She tells this wonderful story best.

An article appeared today in the Washington Post about an American University class assignment that forced the students to go on a 24-hour "media fast." This meant using no computers, video games, cell phones, mp3 players, or any other gadget for a day, for any purpose. Along with the loss of entertainment and immersion in information that accompany these tools, the students saw that it impacted their far-reaching social circles as well.