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But there is a dark side to the relationship between alcohol and the night person. Many people feel that they have no choice but to take a drink to fall asleep at night. The fact is, in many circles, a so-called functional alcoholic is treated with more respect than someone who has trouble getting up in the morning. While it is quite true that alcohol can help a person fall asleep faster, especially those that have difficulty in falling asleep, we will learn that alcohol actually contributes to sleep problems, since it has a negative effect on the quality of sleep.
What about the social connections between alcohol and night people? Let's suppose that it's midnight and you are wide awake. In fact, it's your personal prime time. Being an otherwise normal person, you would like to spend time around other people. Where are you going to go? In most cases, you can't go to a movie. You can't take a class at the local community college. In fact, you have very few options. But you can usually find a bar open until at least 2 AM. In fact, if local laws didn't force bars to close in most areas, many would be open all night. It's no wonder that night owls flock to the local drinking establishment. When the bars close, lonely, and with little else to do, many people misguidedly turn to the bottle for comfort or recreation. Consider these facts: It's quite accepted, even expected, that people will drink late into the evening. On the other hand, it's almost scandalous to have a drink before noon. The term night cap stopped referring to an article of clothing a long ago. Night time and drinking have become virually synonymous. People expect night owls to drink.
Friendship isn't always easily described. The Eskimos, they say, have a hundred different words for snow. Unfortunately, the English language isn't quite as innovative, though it has vast opportunities to differentiate meaning. Certainly, Love is one of those opportunities. And so, too, is Friendship.
Instead of different words, however, we're stuck with simple adjectives. Close friend. Best friend. Childhood friend. Intimate friend. Trusted friend. Beloved friend. But whether you use adjectives or different words, few could deny the nearly infinite meaning in such a simple word.
Friends are special people. We can't pick our family, and we're sorely limited in the number of them at any rate. Society and mores (and often our own conscience) dictate we select a single mate. But our friends can be as diverse and infinite as the adjectives we choose. Our friends, in a very real sense, reflect the choices we make in life.