My Friends, My Soundtrack
I was browsing through YouTube as I often do when I have satisfied my daily fix of StumbleUpon when it suddenly occurred to me that I live my life as if it was a Broadway musical. I have a song for every moment of my life and for almost every person that I call “friend”. So, with the help of YouTube, I have compiled a list of six of my top friends (also known as people who have not pissed me off in the last 72 hours) and the songs that represent them. I have linked all of the titles which will take you to the corresponding YouTube video. I would love to see your list. Leave a comment and link back here.
ANDREW: “Your Song” by Elton John as performed by Heather Headley for the 2004 Kennedy Center Honors honoring Elton John because it is the truest form of love that I have every heard.”Pop Goes My Heart” and “Don’t Write Me Off Just Yet” from the Music & Lyrics soundtrack because, well, it’s self explanatory.
LORRI: “Patience” from the Dreamgirls soundtrack by Eddie Murphy et. al., “If I Ruled the Word” by Nas and “Tell the Truth” by Mos Def because you always me keep my socially conscious.
WILLIE: “Project Image” by Miles Long (Malcolm Jamal Warner’s band) because he let’s me know that it’s OK to redefine myself and expand my desires while staying in touch with my true nature.
MAISHA: “Got My Mojo Working” by Muddy Waters because you have skills and style that sends everyone into a frenzy.
THEMIS: “Ghetto Superstar” by Praz and Mya because she reminds me that sometimes… Continue reading
An Early Farewell, My friend!
I always wanted a sister with whom I had a close relationship. Someone of whom I could never tire of talking to because our conversations always lead to deep reflection and soul-awakening. My real sisters and I never had that kind of relationship and I never found it in the few female friends that I had. That is until I met ‘The Brain” four years ago. Never before have I clicked so well with another woman. Never before I met someone who despite, much like myself, having grown up in a family that seemed to want nothing more than to destroy her spirit, survived and went on to be a strong, compassionate, and well-rounded individual.
When I first met her, I thought, “wow, what a WITCH with a capital ‘B’” because her presence was actually more demanding than my own. But lo and behold, we became friends. I learned very quickly that she and I were kindred spirits and together, we were a force to be reckoned with. She has talked me through some very tough times. She has been a true friend and I am grateful that I have met her.
Unfortunately, “The Brain” is leaving this country and moving to Ireland with her husband. They have to go- this country is not taking care of its own and so what other choice is there, right? But as much as I understand why she as to go, my heart breaks just a little more as each day brings us closer to her departure. We think about life in very much the same way. I know that when she is giving me advice, she is doing it out of love, respect, and honesty. I know that I will never find a friendship like that again. I am at a loss.… Continue reading
You’re Not Welcomed Here Anymore
Originally Written on March 21, 2008
We allowed a friend to stay with us while he looked for a job. That was eight weeks ago. He went to HS with my husband and despite the fact that they did not speak often, they grew up together and were very good friends. So when he contacted my husband through Facebook to tell us that he was moving back to the area, we were excited.
He moved back without a job though he supposedly had a one lined up. He was living with a friend, but after being out of work for several months, the friend asked him to leave so that his girlfriend could move in and help pay the bills. He called us. With no where to go and limited funds, I agreed to let him come living with us.
He did. And his generosity was unmatched. He allowed us to cook for him, to clean up after him, to provide him with a car and gas, and to buy food, 40s, and cigs. He allowed us to fall behind in our bills and to hope for promised money. And even made sure to leave us a tablespoon of Tanqueray that we had for over 1 year and White Zinfandel that I occasionally had to drink at night. He even finished off our vodka so that we would not get crazy and trashed one night.
We were blessed with eight weeks of his compassion. He passed up a job just so that he could spend more time with our family and he even made sure to be a negative influence on my daughter. He introduced inappropriate TV shows around our 22 month old and even left empty beer bottles around in an attempt to spark her curiosity.
Finally, we could… Continue reading
Come Out Come Out Where Ever You Are
I am alone. Except for her, and him, and her, and her. We are alone.
Up until 4 years ago, I was living in a false reality. I was under the assumption that human beings were generally good people. We helped each other out because we knew that deep down, it is the right thing to do. But this is not the case.
The reality is that human beings are takers. We are takers and we never give back. We “pave paradise and put up a parking lot” and then we plant a tree to give the illusion of giving back to the world.
This rant comes from a very dark place. It comes from a place of complete disgust. We are helping out a friend. He is living with us because, after moving from Atlanta to NY, he could not find a job and needed a place to live. He was living with another friend, but it did not pan out. And now I know why.
We have allowed him to live with us and he has decided that he was going to screw us over so completely that we actually had to miss a rent payment. I’m not going to go into details; it is not necessary. All that needs to be said is this- friendships are precious to me, but when someone screws me over once and then does it again, I am not too forgiving.
I am at a loss when I try to understand someone who is content with being a leech- a mooch- a loser. The Revenge of Intellect tells me that most good people keep to themselves and don’t ask for help. What sucks is that all the bad people are asking for help and the good people who… Continue reading