Trust

Maybe I am wrong, but I have always felt that someone has to earn trust... Family trust excluded...It is a given that I trust my wife with the secrets of my soul...Even when I was in the military, I didn't trust the people above me just because of rank.  I respected the rank, but they had to earn their trust.  It is the same way within the City Fire Department.  While I do respect the ranks above me, trust isn't something that is automatic. Today I had a conversation with a friend of mine to see if I was in the wrong about this. He explained that I was not.   It is something that I have been struggling with.  It made me think....as fast as I could... about 4 people I could really trust.
1. Billy Hill-- I have been through a ton with this guy...good times and bad...he was there for me when I moved out of the house at 15. He gave me a couch to sleep on. We were together when a drive by almost killed a friend of ours daughter and we took the streets to beat the crap out of those who shot. He has been my confidant for years.
2.  Tim Wilken----I was on a group date when I was stationed in Wyoming with an attractive person..I got up to use the restroom and when I returned I saw Tim at a table about to fight 8 guys because the disrespected my date in front of everyone when I was away...I knew right then that I could trust this dude with my life..The type of friend that if I called right now, he would drive from Wyoming to help me out.
3. James Berry---Out one night in San Angelo, as the only white kid in the club, I caught some static...Next thing I new James was taking up for me and got punched in the face...IT WAS ON!!  3 on everyone else and we survived. I will never forget that night....Race when out the window and my friend went to blows to protect me.
4---Ray Lagares----January 2001 we were playing a game of flag football against the Marines.  There rusher kept knocking me to the ground and I got upset....I uttered some words and the next thing I new what seemed like the entire Marine Corp was coming after me.  This was all caught on video and the only thing you see is Ray running to help me out...2 against ?  Cooler heads prevailed but the fact that he was willing to take a beat down with me....I will never forget it...
I am sure there are more that I could name but these are the ones that popped into my head.....Trust is earned...it doesn't have to be fighting but I believe it has to be a situation that really test you in order to find out who really steps up on your behalf.  Just some rambling thoughts that have been going through my head...