Friends come in all forms, don't they? Some are relatives and some were strangers. Some are big, some are small, some are short, and some are tall (I know, I'm a poet and didn't know it). Some are just friends, some are good friends, some are best friends, and some are your bestest friend in the whole wide world!!
I have been blessed to have lots of friends in my life. Many were school friends and many were work friends, but at every stage in my life I can remember a few "life changing" friends. You know the ones, they were there in really important stages of your life, someone you relate momentous occasions or changes to. Or someone that was just so incredibly important or influential on you that something inside you fundamentally shifted forever.
I want to give some brief introductions to some friends you are going to see here in this blog. Their names will, no doubt, come up often because they are big parts of my memories. And rather than take the time out during a story to explain who these people are, I thought I'd give the Reader's Digest version.
Michael B - He was my very first best friend that wasn't a family member. The time frame for Mikey was 1-3rd grade. We were like Forrest and Jenny - peas and carrots.
My next pivotal friend didn't come until 6th grade. Her name was Vicky. She was smarter than me, funny, had much older siblings which made her cool, and she was a good girl. Here are a couple things I learned from Vicky; sometimes friendships between girls can be toxic and good families are sometimes only good on the surface.
Angie - She was my first "running buddy". I experienced a lot of firsts in my life with Angie, all of them memorable (if somewhat hazy).
Dawan - I spent much of my Senior year with Dawan. She "lived out loud" if any one ever did, and she taught me a lot about being a tough-ass southern broad.
Raigon - Another running buddy. We met at our job and I introduced her to a guy who would be her 100 year boyfriend. She was with me a lot of my senior year.
Jeana - She taught me what it means to be a class act, to have grace under pressure, and that being a square peg is the most beautiful thing in the whole world. She also helped expand my taste in music.
Jeanie - She was my first "neighbor friend". Jeanie lived across the street from me, she worked for my Mom, and our daughters were in the same Brownie troop. It was destined.
Alan - He is a friend that I made at work, but our friendship survived us not working together. Alan is pivotal because he is the first young man I ever met that loves his wife, already, the way my Poppy loved my Grammy - with his whole soul.
Darlene - Darlene was my second "neighbor friend". She moved in next door to me and her house had the perfect little porch. Soon enough, her, me, and Jeanie became the Porch Monkeys. You will hear that term again. And Darlene's name frequently as she remains the best friend in my life.
Ann - Darlene's daughter-in-law. She is another treasure that came from 33rd street!
Family will be Chapter 2.
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