To Lisa...A True Friend

Late nights staying up talking on the phone, you always had this talent to put my heart at ease. You anticipated the worst, not expecting me to laugh, but you somehow put that smile back on my face—making me giggle. Your clichés were endless. I used to call you on them, telling you, “STOP ALREADY!!!” But, I honestly loved every single corny cliché that came out of your mouth. It made me laugh, and it also made sense to every situation we were going through.

You always sensed when I was down. You would come over with a handful of gifts. The thoughtfulness was overwhelming. Did I even deserve this? You brought me over a bottle of wine or a bouquet of Heinekens. How adorable was that? I never knew they made bouquets of beer! You knew I loved truffles. You made sure I had my stock of them. Cards, poems and little sentimental trinkets are still saved. The crystal owl still sits on my dresser. You knew that I had an obsession with owls and went out of your way to get that for me.

Countless nights at our favorite restaurant talking for hours over goblets of wine and delicious pasta, are my favorite memories. Summers spent at my house playing horseshoes, drinking beer, playing badminton and then going off to swim in my pool were so much fun. We would then throw a porterhouse on the barbeque and hang out till the wee hours of the night drinking my mocha espressos. You never liked black coffee before, until you met me. I don’t even think you liked coffee---period---until you met me.

I’ll never forget the time I took you out to the Irish pub down the street. You weren’t the type to mingle in a crowded room full of smiling eyes and cowboy hats. It was karaoke night, and Jeff, the karaoke leader saw his new prey---you. I could tell you were nervous, sitting at the sticky bar in your beautiful expensive outfit, trying to not look anyone in the eye. I introduced you to black & tan beer. We had to mingle with the natives. After a few brews, you let your hair down and we continued to make that a regular pit stop. We used to go with a dozen other girls and stay there till closing. They literally had to kick all of us out. Finally, you were up there with the rest of them—singing your heart out! “Love Will Keep Us Together” will always echo through my mind, remembering how many beers it took you to get up there and sing it.

Vacationing with you was like no other experience I have ever had. I think I broke a few ribs from laughing so hard! Our trip to Provincetown, MA was hysterical. All the women kept giving you their phone numbers. You would meet Madelene and me at the café in the morning to have breakfast with us. We would be sitting outside enjoying our smoked salmon on a bagel, waiting for you as we watched tons of people walk by. You would walk through the crowd in your Tom Cruise sunglasses, trying to be incognito—to hide yourself from that ‘bandana girl’ who was stalking you the entire time. She was there, watching you as you whizzed by quickly, sitting down, placing the menu in front of your face. She wasn’t stupid.

A few nights, we found ourselves dancing away in a crowd full of mullets and flannel shirts. We were the only ones dressed up. They gave us a green glow stick to indicate that we were single. My girlfriend watched, as I grabbed one—just so I could have fun and play single for one night. She laughed, and thought it was funny too. I wore them, because I hooked the glow sticks all over my jean hooks, my wrists and back pockets. I was glowing like a nuclear disaster! After hours of dancing, we walked back to our bed and breakfast. The two roads we had to walk weren’t long…but that night, we somehow made it seem we were walking for miles, laughing so hard that we had to stop and sit on each bench. At one point, you laughed so hard, you developed an anxiety attack. I had to pull you over into that little shop’s walkway to calm you down. I massaged your shoulders and it seemed to put you at ease.

When I was going through a rough break up, you came over and stayed with me. I cried to you, as you just sat there holding me, trying to comfort me. It worked. Not too long after that, you brought me to the hospital because I was having heart palpitations—which I thought was a heart attack. You drove from another state, to pick me up and bring me to the emergency room. I’ll never forget how you dropped everything for me. Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead right now. I was in a bad state of mind, and you always, always made sure I was okay. I love you for that!

We wrote songs together. You sang, as I played guitar. Our youth was in full swing when we were hanging out. You helped me edit my book, correcting me of any typos or weird phrased sentences. I’m still not perfect, but you’ve helped me come a long way with my writing. Thank you.

As time went on, we both got serious in our relationships. It seemed as though our visits and phone calls were getting less and less. Our emails were still frequent, but the personal contact and visits were almost next to zero. It happens. I’m sorry I gave you a hard time about not hanging out as much, but I missed my best friend. I missed the only girl who made me laugh till I had an asthma attack. I missed the person who knew me…inside and out. How did you know me so well? You knew me better than some of my own blood!

Right now, I’m happy that we’re talking more and visiting one another more. We both have terrific significant others who enhance our friendship as well. The more the merrier! I want you to be happy, Lisa. You deserve only that. You’re a special woman with so many positive qualities. Anyone can see that. You give 110%. You never do anything half-assed and you never expect anything back in return.

I just wanted to write this letter publicly to you, so that you know, and everyone out there knows, what a wonderful, caring person you are. Remember what we used to say?

“You’re a ‘lifer’.”

You gave me a book called, “Proverbs For Life—For You”. Inside the book, you wrote:

“To my very dear friend & “personal champion”,

Whenever you have a trying day, try some of these. Never lose hold of your amazing spirit.

Love,
Lisa"

In the book are wonderful little proverbs and sayings to help you through whatever you’re challenged with. I still have this book, and still read it—whenever I’m faced with problems.

One of the proverbs that remind me of you is this one:

“It is better to have one true friend than all the acquaintances in the world.” ~Author unknown

You Lisa, are a true friend!