Today, I watched the latest installment of Batman, The Batman. All in all, while I appreciated the graphics and the realism behind the movie as a whole, it was anti-climactic to say the least and left a ton to be desired. Towards the end, the Riddler is given a riddle of his own to solve - Riddle me this, the less of these you have, the more one is worth. Stumped? I was too. The answer was actually simple. A friend.
I've never been one to have a bunch of friends. Hell, I've never even had a handful. But the ones that have stuck by, made the struggles I went through a little easier, in hindsight. I've always believed birds of a feather flock together, but I've always found myself flocking alone. My best friend, Keri, is probably the longest friend I've had and her and I sync so well, but we couldn't be more different. Diana and I vibe. We get each other, get our struggles, and sympathize to the max, but her and I have lead very different paths, and what I do isn't necessarily the same for her. Lee and I got our start unconventionally, through family, but I love her just the same and our opposing point of views keep us strong and give us good conversations.
But despite the experiences I've had with these women, each one of these friendships have withstood the test of trust, time, and loyalty. I've been friends with each of them for years. Keri knows me so well that she knows that when I punctuate all of my texts perfectly that I'm beyond upset. Diana and I keep a comfortable pace; our times for talking ebbs and flows like a tide. We talk heavy sometimes, calling each other every morning and texting throughout the day. Just as quickly we will go days, maybe a week or two without really talk. We do this because sometimes the intensity of it all is so much we can't even speak to each other about it. The emotions get overwhelming, or it's too exhausting to keep repeating. Lee and I talk EVERY morning. Sometimes twice a day. She's my every day, in and out, and she keeps me company when I feel most alone.
I'm stubborn as all hell. When I get in a mood, I don't want to talk to NOBODY. You hear me? NOBODY. And I dub my friends, my family, hell if I ain't gotta say two words to my kids, just cook, feed, bathe, and escort, my days would be set. I hate talking because when I start I can't stop. It also ties into what I said in my previous post about unlearning mistakes. I spent so much time being taught to tuck my feelings away, to not cry or else I'd be taunted. It's certainly a behavior to unlearn.
I am grateful to these wonderful women, who are mothers, friends, lovers, workers, and everything else great in their own ways. There were times in my life I couldn't make it through without them, and I'm sure there will be more times to come. The road is long, and we can't make it without friends.
Keri, I'm sorry I threw up on your shoes when I was giving birth to Adrianna. You didn't even bat an eye, even though you are a germaphobe like a motherf***er. Thank you for picking me up from surgery when I needed you, and for rear ending my car the same day. Thank you for the laughs, not so much for the tears, and thank you for coming with me to prom, instead of taking that limo with the others. You, someone loved by everyone in high school, made an outcast feel like she belonged somewhere. Maybe you weren't always how I wanted you to be, but we withstood the test of time, and in you I don't have a friend. I have a sister.
Diana, we weren't even on each other's radars. We have hung out once in the past five years, but have maintained something solid through texts, calls, and pictures of our kids. I swear, at the beginning there, I was ready to cut your crazy ass off, but I'm glad I stuck around for the loyalty. You're my chicana, my taco eating counterpart, my toxic sista from anotha mista. We will always have Kalahari.
Lee, you've done so much for me. The kids love their favorite aunt, and you are such an important part of their lives. You ever need to bury a body, I'll bring my car. You let me stay in your house when I needed the space and had no where else to go. We've had drinks, we've had words, we've had tears. Thank you for being the rock I needed, when it wasn't always the one I wanted.
I'll measure the level of my success if anyone, including these three, can spare a kind word of me one day. The most important thing? Be a friend to others, even when you have none. You never know where one will appear.
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