"The only way to have a friend
is to be one."
- Ralph
Waldo Emerson
Today was a great day. Why was it so great
you ask? It was great simply because I was able to have lunch with my brother
Bradley and my dear friend Nicole. They both work as Pool
Managers for the City of San Diego and today they teamed up to visit several pools.
I called Bradley just to say hi and to my surprise he told me that he was
driving around with Nicole running errands. I hadn't had lunch yet and it was
getting to be about that time that my stomach starts to grumble in
anticipation. After exchanging the typical "well I don't know
where do you want to go", I finally suggested Corner Bakery in Mission
Valley. I was craving their delicious Baked Potato Soup and I was
sure that Bradley and Nicole could find something that they would enjoy.
I really enjoyed their company and it
seemed to make the food taste even that much better. When we weren't
putting the next bite into our mouths we were laughing. Laughter they say is
the best medicine, but when it’s shared over a good meal amongst friends that
is truly priceless. As we were walking towards the door Nicole and I
spotted another friend and coworker of ours. Ariell had just sat down and the
three of us stood there in shock for a moment at the serendipitous reunion of
the three amigos. After exchanging hugs and snapping a quick
picture for Facebook, we said our goodbyes and promised to bump into
each other again soon. I walked out of the restaurant smiling ear to ear
and thinking about how wonderful unexpected reunions between friends can
be.
Completely stuffed from lunch I came home
and decided that my next course of action should be a nap. I knew
that I would be thankful I got in a little nap even if it was shorter than
I might have liked it to be. I had about an hour to sleep before I
needed to wake up, shower and head over to another friend’s house.
This wonderful friend Lizzie lost her father about a week ago and her
mother Karen was hosting a celebration of life for her late husband. The
Scanlon's have been friends of mine for many years and I couldn't possibly
look back at my youth without thinking of them and many fond
memories. There was not a snowball's chance in hell that I was not going to be
there for them. They had always been there for me so I knew it was the right
thing to do.
When I arrived there weren’t too many
people I recognized besides the family. A few people from our church and the
nursery school where Karen taught, but most of the people were friends,
neighbors, and relatives whom I didn't recognize. I walked up thinking
about what I was going to say, but before I could finish my thoughts Karen
spotted me out of the corner of her eye. For a split second she froze
trying to figure out which twin I was. Before I could
even get out a few words of sympathy she grabbed me and hugged me with
tears in her eyes. I am a sensitive guy, okay fine I will admit
that I am a crier. An undeniable sympathetic crier I could feel warm tears
well up in my own eyes as she told me how happy she was that I was able to come
to support her and her children.
I'm not always a good friend, but I try to
be. Sometimes I can be a little phone-a-phobic, and scheduling time for friends
sometimes gets lost in my chaotic life, but I try to be there for my friends
when they need me. I like what Oprah Winfrey said when she said "Everybody
has a friend who will ride in the limo with you, but a real friend is someone
who will take the bus with you after your limo breaks down." These friends
are there with you for the good times, but when it gets tough and I mean really
tough, they are nowhere to be found. I really make an effort to not be one of
those friends. I want my friends to know and I hope most of them do already
that I will be there for them. Come what may I will be there.
In closing, thank you Bradley, Nicole, Scanlon's,
and all my friends for picking me up when I am down and for being there for me
when I have needed someone in my corner. I wish I had the time and space to
mention each one of you individually, but you know who you are and of the
special place you have in my heart. From the words of a song I learned a long
time ago at Curie Elementary School...
"A circle is round that has no end,
and that's how long I want to be your friend."