In Praise of S Dub
April 24, 2008 | Filed under: Whoopdie Doo
“Friends can be said to “fall in like” with as profound a thud as romantic partners fall in love.” ~Letty Cottin Pogrebin
I can count on one hand the number of people I’ve met and adored from minute one. I am known for shying away for weeks or months at a time before I feel some sort of comfort that doesn’t require me to breathe into a paper bag in order to have casual conversation. In fact if you were to watch me make small talk with a new person, you’d probably ask for the torture to end since my hand-wringing and shifting back and forth and casting my eyes downward. Then you’d question how it is possible that I’ve managed to get through 24 ½ years without knowing how to put three words together. While we’re at it, I can also count on two fingers the number of people I can talk to on the phone – sorry, the motherfucking phone – without needing to be resuscitated mid-conversation. And guess what? Neither of these people contributed to my DNA.
It appears that I have very large and sturdy walls built up around my person which has served well at keeping people out until I feel so moved to let them in. And in the rare case that I meet someone on day one and decide that we will have to be lifetime friends, then they get a key to the fortress and a year’s supply of the alcohol of their choice because they will need it in order to cope with being my friend.
A few weeks ago Metalia asked exactly how long I’ve known Susan and it is literally just over a year since we started commenting on each other’s blogs. Yet one would think that I’ve known her since birth because she is one of the few people that I genuinely adore and I know this because she fits into both of the above categories. She’s a pointy-toed shoe, cardigan-wearing anomaly.
In fact she deviates from the norm in such a way that I flew (FLEW) to a state that I swore I would sooner walk out into the middle of traffic than visit because holy fuck, she lives in Oklahoma. And yet I went to visit her literally six days after meeting her for the first time ever because I adored her and apparently she only thought I was a lush but not a serial killer so she allowed me into her home. And to show my gratitude for having me as her guest, I almost gave her a stroke by wearing crocs. CROCS. Yet somehow we got through my wearing crocs and her picking shitty, shitty teams for her March Madness bracket and my wearing Birkenstocks, tights and socks out in public.
A few weeks ago we were walking through Manhattan and passed a restaurant with two people sitting outside casually sipping wine. We both stopped to look and she said “That’s what we need to be doing right now. Drinking wine”
“You know what” I said “no matter what happens: my crappy footwear or your shitty team picking, we will always, always have our wine. That’s why we will remain friends.”
And it’s true. For her 40th Birthday I have done something that I know would make her proud; I went shopping. But I didn’t buy the first trapeze sweater I saw. Oh no, I bought good summer wardrobe staples to guarantee that I would have something presentable to wear to work and out each day so that I don’t look like the office intern or a hooker. Because more than anything I could physically give her, she would die happy knowing that she will not see me in a pair of silver crocs (I can practically hear her gagging from here) for the next four months.
So Happy Birthday, my dear. I’m going to get dressed every damn day even if it kills me.
Love,
HeatherB (one word)
Thursday says:
She must indeed be a true friend if she walked down the street with you whilst you were wearing Crocs.
She Likes Purple says:
This was really wonderful. I can’t wait to meet the both of you!
Angella says:
What a great tribute!
Susan seems to be all sorts of wonderful.
(As do you.)
Angella says:
I should clarify. I said “seems to be” because we have yet to meet in person. I love you both already, but I cannot wait to actually chat face to face.
July is fast approaching, roomie!
slynnro says:
How sweet. I really just can’t wait for July.
I can talk to no one on the phone at all. The other day when you called me on the telephone? I was terrified to answer because I feared that if we had to speak on the phone? You would decide you hated me. True story!
Jen says:
You guys really make me wish I could go in July! I’m already looking forward to the pictures and recaps.
I am just a big geek who loves the fact that people can become great friends through comments and blogs.
Susan says:
OMG that made me cry. And not just the part about the Crocs and the Birkenstocks with socks although STOP WEARING THOSE PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.
Ahem.
Internet, HeatherB is the best. The BEST.
And now I need a tissue.
Allie says:
Birkis and socks and tights oh my! Well, at least it wasn’t Crocs and socks and tights.
And wine, it covers a multitude of sins.
Jay says:
Now that’s devotion!
Where can I find a friend like that? Does she have a brother? Is he terribly cute?
Bri says:
That is quite possibly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.
Katie says:
At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, I just wanted to say how lucky the both of you are to share such a special friendship. They truly are hard to come by.
camels & chocolate says:
You’re one of those people I know I would meet and adore within minute one.
Just so you know!
Aimee Greeblemonkey says:
What a lovely post. Happy birthday (again!) Susan.