I’m not sure where this is going to go, but hang in here with me. There’s not much going on in blogland today, and I’m aggravated as a hive of bees.
I’m trying to lower my blood pressure, so I’d better vent quite well right here.
Yesterday I was the embodiment of what not to do. I went to work with no sleep and a tummy that hadn’t seen food in a bit. I was stressed and irritable from an all night ordeal that was horiffic. It involved a rat. Nough said about that. Anyway, a friend of mine suprised me and singlehandedly made it all better. Let’s go back.
We talk regularly, and when he knew I was to have surgery, he made a mental note. Surgery was postponed. I forgot to tell him, and I skipped town. I returned to a gazillion missed calls from him trying to see how I was fairing. I called and explained and we agreed to expedite his doing a group talk for me before my procedure. Yesterday was the day on which we agreed, but I was so preoccupied during the weekend that I failed to email him directions or any necessary information. I left him a voicemail yesterday morning with minimal info asking him to call me, which he did–but he was calling my home phone while I was at work. This angel of a man got on the highway (he lives almost an hour away) and just came to where I work, parked his car, and asked questions until he found exactly where I would be. On my end, I’m thinking, well, I haven’t heard from him, so I’m glad I didn’t tell anyone he was coming. I’ll just see if we can reschedule if he can forgive me for being so unorganized. I walk into the room to see him seated at the front. I hadn’t even told him what to discuss, but he was there and ready. After I picked my face up off the floor, I gave him the biggest hug imagineable.
This was really a big deal and a huge favor because he is a well-known poet, author, speaker, etc. , and he took time out of a very busy schedule that involved making a publishing deadline to be there for me. Have I mentioned that I love him? He is the best. And it didn’t stop there.
I was so appreciative I just wanted to do something for him. When we used to work in the same city, I’d treat him to lunch in exchange for an interview. He always obliged me. I decided I’d show him a little bit of my new city and take him to a spot off the beaten path. This was after he waited two hours for me to get off work. We went to this really cool restaurant in a quaint area. We had the best creative conversation, and he ended up treating me. I was like, you’re helping me out–a lot–so please let me get the check. He refused and cited my stressed state as his reason. After dinner we went to a discount bookstore across the street. I made a mental note of the books he likes so I can do a really nice gift basket as a thank you for his favor. Did I mention that there was no compensation for his coming?
Since he’d been trying to get by to see my house for at least a year, we took a ride by there and did a quick tour. He was so gracious that he even waited with me until my overnight guest could get there because I was still a little frazzled. Did I mention he had a deadline to meet that was that day and it was already night?
Of the people that I call friends, I seem to attract the very best. Even my acquaintances are pretty sharp, caring, and savvy people. I ain’t mad about the birds of a feather adage because this guy is the kind of friend that I am. No, we are not involved but just professional friends/colleagues, which is why I didn’t expect so much from him. I know how he treats his friends because I read his work. I just didn’t know we were there, and I don’ t know why I didn’t know that because we’ve been communicating through the illness and death of his mom, the sickness of my dad, and a myriad of other personal professional concerns. Anyway, once again, I’m blessed to have another beautiful man in my life.
On a side but related note, I do have quite a few professional acquaintances and friends in the literary world who are well known in and outside of their circles. I guess that’s no accident since I once aspired (and I guess still do) to be a full-time writer. God is giving me big nudges. One of the authors said she’d do a blurb for me when I decide to publish, and she as a rule does not do blurbs or promote other authors’ works. I think God is trying to tell me something. One day I’ll give you guys some samples as I don’t typically post creative work here. This space is really for venting and clearing my head so I can be free to create without luggage in my brain.
Okay, without even discussing my annoyances, I feel better!!! Who says writing isn’t therapeutic? No one, I hope. I totally reversed a negative feeling by focusing on the positive. Wish more people would try it, but wait, I gotta give you this one peeve of mine. Why do people go to the wrong folks for advice? Like, why would you get financial advice from someone who’s broke, or why would you buy a house from a realtor who doesn’t own one? Why would you seek relationship advice from someone not in or who may never have been in a healthy relationship? Why would you seek celibacy advice from a promiscuous girl or vegan diet advice from a carnivore? Some things just don’t make sense even though I know you can learn a lot from a dummy, so I guess all things really are possible, and you can find wisdom in the oddest of places. Oh, well. Whatever.
Ciao!!