Friendship

Friendship

Life is funny, isn't it? I've been vexed for weeks about how I didn't handle a situation and then today I met up with an old friend and everything fell into place.

On August 2nd (I can be that precise because it was the day of the Led Zepagain noontime concert), as Twi and I disembarked from the redline, in a flash I saw an old high school pal Linda. Now it's been years since I've heard from/about, let alone seen her. Yet, she looked very much the same, which left me feeling sad.

It looked like she was still in the same place. She hadn't moved. She inquired directions of another passenger and I turned to say something to Twi. In that instant, Linda was gone, the doors closed behind me and the train departed. I walked to my concert and Linda's haunted me since.

I've wondered why didn't I speak to her? I had time. Granted, they were seconds, but why didn't I at least try? Why did I choose to ignore her? Was I embarrassed to acknowledge her in Twi's presence? Was I worried about my reputation? Have I lost myself?

I don't have any answers - just questions. What I do have is some peace, at last. God has brought two other friends back into my life, both in need of a shoulder. Stupes (it's a long story, she knows it's her nickname and doesn't mind) is having relationship problems with her boyfriend of nine years. He has suddenly discovered that her two children are first and foremost in her life. Go figure!

Roadrunner is still coping with the death of her mother and five adult siblings who can't get their shit together. Her siblings have always, always been adult babies. They're irresponsible, never have money to do anything and always on the lookout for a freebie or hand out. She now has two adult brothers living with her and not one is paying a penny for a damn thing!

So as I sat in the terrace, full sunshine blazing on me, feeling the heat penetrate and warm my soul, Roadrunner happened upon me. Bless her heart, she was on a day off and on her way to visit brother one, who's hospitalized. He's unaware that brother two is now occupying the bedroom he's called home for eight months.

I sat and listened. We talked about spirituality. I listened. Finding balance. I listened. Her anger and mounting resentment about the imposition on her life. I listened. Her struggle to accept that her mother is gone. I listened.

And then it me: Perhaps - I was never meant to connect with Linda. She was a marker for me to gauge my life by. If I truly believe that there are no coincidences, then our non-meeting was meant to be. Just as I was meant to be sitting on the bench when Roadrunner walked by.

"God knew I needed to see you, sis! I needed someone to listen to me. Someone to make me smile and laugh. Someone that I could talk to about real things. None of that 'how ya doing' shit as they smile and keep walking!" I smiled and then laughed because in my heart, I knew she was right.