Most of us are lucky to make it through our lives with maybe one or two people that we call our best friends. Well at this point I still have some best friends, but the majority of them became much more than that. As corny as it sounds, I am happy to say that I can call my best friends, of about 15 years, my brothers.

Now, what does it take to cross that so called "brother barrier"? Well, one thing, it takes is time.

I have known most of my friends for about 12-15 years. We all grew up in the same neighborhood, went to the same school, and loved hanging out with each other. In fact, the first night I ever spent in my house my friend RJ slept over. And let's face it once you stay over on the first night in a new house, you're pretty much bonded forever. I think it's written in the Bible or something. I can't remember. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that one big reason I am still friends with these guys is because we have spent the majority of our lives around each other. And the more time you spend around someone, the better you get to know each other. (Yeah. I don't know why I needed to explain that to you.)

I met each of my friends in a very unique way, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

I met my brother from another mother, RJ, when I was 5 years old. His house was built before mine was, but I met him in the middle of the biggest dirt pile you have ever seen. We would pretend that the dirt was lava and ran around screaming until our parents thought there was something wrong with us. From that point on I think we both knew we'd be boys forever.

I met my friend Kyle through another friend, but the first time I remember meeting him he chased my brother around trying to kiss him. We're still not sure why. My friend Zach came into my life through our parents, and that bastard had the balls to be one day older than me, something he will never let me forget. I met my friend Sabian because RJ thought it would be a good idea to throw a giant rock at him. And I'm not really sure how Matt Varani came into my life, but he's here and I'm happy about it.

There is a point to this article I swear.

Now, yes, knowing someone for a long time is an important part of them becoming like family to you. However, it's what happens during your time together that makes you family. I still don't know what I did to deserve such a great group of friends in my life, but I'll be damned if we have not been there for each other every step of the way. Each one of us has endured many hardships in the time that we have known each other, and yet here we all are. We did not need to really on each other because we knew that the support would be there, whether we wanted it or not.

I know for a fact that if it were not for these men that I call my brothers I would not be here today. I have been to some very low points in my life, but every time I fall into the pit there is a hand to pull me up. Dealing with depression and countless heartbreaks is no fun at all, but with my brothers in my corner, I know that I'm not going anywhere, and neither are they. So this article is for them, my brothers, the reason I'm alive.

Yours Truly,

Ryan Jordan