Remembering . . .

“In prosperity our friends know us and in adversity we know our friends.”  – Unknown

Memorial Day is a time of remembrance.  Americans take time to remember the thousands of men and woman in the military who have proudly and courageously served our country.  I take a moment to reflect upon an uncle I never met because he died in Vietnam and to remember my favorite military man, my grandfather. 

However, this year, I also remembered Memorial Day last year.  Because Memorial Day, for better or worse, is the day before “Black Tuesday.”  A year ago, it was the day before life as I knew it turned up-side-down.  Last Memorial Day, I had no idea what was going to go down the following day.  If I had – I probably would have tried to sleep through Tuesday and wake up Wednesday.  But alas, ignorance is bliss.

In reflecting on Memorial Day – I couldn’t help but reflect on what a difference a year really makes.  A whole year.  365 days.  I made it.  And I’m stronger for it.  Wiser for it.  Better for it. 

And, I really have to say, for all the bad that went down in the past year there was a whole lot of good that went down too.  A lot of it. 

But, the thing I reflected upon most was my friends. 

In a time when I was falling (I was crashing / this is bad, real bad, Michael Jackson) my friends were there to catch me and make sure I landed solidly on the ground.  They really, really stepped up to the plate.  And helped me in ways they couldn’t even imagine. 

They brought me back to life when I was but a shell of myself.  And they nudged me back on the dating horse with well intentioned (but ill-fated) set-ups.  They made me laugh so hard I cried when we exchanged dating war stories (Jeepers Creepers, the 3.5 and the guy Mini Me told me about at dinner last week – hence forth and forever more known as Pirate Coate –  all come to mind).  And, they let me cry so hard that I ended up laughing – as long and as often as I needed to.  They took me away with their families for long weekends at the beach.  And they opened up their homes and showed me Southern Hospitality (and fed me good, southern food too). 

They’ve listened to me rant over e-mail. 

Indulged my complexes on numerous occasions.

Sent me private messages over Facebook and BB Messenger reminding me that I’m awesome and that things will get better.

Made plans to visit me during Memorial Day weekend because they knew how things could have turned out.

Sat through dinners with me when I was at 60% of my usual self.  And reminded me that it’s OK not to be 100% all the time.

They’ve just been really, really good to me.  And for that I’m thankful. 

On a day when I could have reflected about how bad this time last year was – I didn’t.  I was able to reflect on the fact that I have some pretty amazing, stand-up friends.  Everyone should be so lucky. 

Signed,
I Know Who My Friends Are Barbie

~ by countryclubbarbie on May 26, 2009.