Friends.
They're a big part of my life. How do I know this?
1) The posts I can remember are the ones involving friends or about friendship.
2) When I think back on BIG occasions in my life (ok, and even small ones) the first thing that comes to mind is the people who were around me then.
3) When I'm feeling lonely, I look for one. When I'm happy, I send another an SMS. When the weather's too hot, I complain to yet another. I kid you not.
Today on the phone, a friend was feeling down, maybe a little pissed off, but mostly just upset at HER friend. In the course of trying to figure out exactly what happened and how she could avoid similar situations in the future, I realised that friendships are truly, truly wonderful things. Said friend is someone I've known since I was 15 (I think) and over the last 22 years, we've watched movies, been best friends, lived together, had a cold war (lasting I think in excess of 5 years), shared a dog, played computer games, run the choir, gone on holiday, fought and argued, made each other cry - like globs of snot kind of cry - and much much more, I'm sure.
Yeah, yeah, we've had so many years to bond, we practically grew up together, you say. But is the duration of a friendship really a measure of how deep that friendship is - or ought to be? No, I say. And having been friends with someone for ages and ages does not automatically guarantee that you will remain steeped in friendship forever. (See Culled from the table)
Over the last couple of years, a once shy, quiet student has found the nerve to actually have conversations with me. And not just about music theory either. She finally opened up and under that what-I-once-thought-of-as-timid exterior lives a monster! To say we get on like a house on fire is a gross understatement. She's still a student, with one last exam to go... but that doesn't stop us from having crazy chats - from boy problems (MINE, not hers!) to eating habits, singing at the top of our lungs, stuffing our faces with House Cheeseburgers and Skyping on a daily basis.
Even more than that, when I found myself in the midst of an insurance dilemma, rescue came in the form of her mother. Over time, in the process of Advisoring me on my Finances, a friendship began to bloom and grow. [Cue Edelweiss from Sound of Music to accompany my singing the song right about now.]
I spent last Sunday evening slurping up Laksa, filling up Pie Tee moulds and stuffing Tau Kwa Paus into my mouth at their dining table. This was followed by the usual lamentations of over-eaters the world over - Oh, I'm so Full! Yeah, I'm stuffed! Shouldn't have eaten so much! Etc.
After about 10 minutes of that, the Bibik in me kicked in and I got round to wiping the table, sweeping the floor and generally just "kiok"-ing the place while the dishes were getting washed and settees were being straightened. The best thing about this is that I was glad to be helping and I'm even more thrilled that my hostess(es) didn't object to it.
Now is that any way to treat a guest? No. But I wasn't just a guest in their home. And for that, I'm truly grateful. 5 hours after I arrived, when the cake was all eaten (and yes, we were STILL stuffed at that point - but it was good cake!) when the tea was all drunk, when the songs were all sung, I bid them farewell and left with a smile on my face and a giggle in my heart!
In the time it took me to realise that some friendships had gone past their expiration date, I also managed to find some new ones in places I never expected.
So bring on the tea, ladies. For as Martin Luther said: As long as we live, there is never enough singing!
(Dedicated to SL and AL)
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