The Biggest Gift Would Be From Me...

By Jamie

It was one of those Fridays.  I had a huge case of the fuck-its.  So bad that at 11:15 I barged in to my supervisors office and said “I’ve got the fuck-its, can I leave at noon?”  He was a bit shocked, but obliged.  My husband had been out of town that week, kiddo was sick, I was tired and work wasn’t offering me anything more than misery.  This is why I have vacation right?  Sometimes it’s planned but sometimes you just got to take 4 hours to make it.  I was excited to go home, relax, start my weekend. 

Standing at the bus stop my mood didn’t improve much.  I just wanted to get the commute over and be home.  It was sunny, so that was pleasant, but that is where the pleasantry stopped for me.  The bus came, I got on and the bus lurched forward.  I always loose a little bit of my balance when the driver hits the gas, I’m used to it.  Then someone grabbed my arm, as if to steady me.  In my head I was thinking “Hands off…I can handle this.  Don’t touch me.  I’m a sour as milk left out for days”.  I turn to see who this person was who would reach out and touch a stranger…I was going to give him or her the most evil fuck off face.  And what to my delight do I find, only one of my favorite friends, the one and only Jody.  I squealed like a high school girl and threw myself into the nearest seat.    Jody and I don’t work anywhere near each other, so to see her shiny face was a shock.  Totally out of nowhere!  She had been working on a school project at the Olympic Sculpture Garden (or park?  I don’t really know what the official name of it is) and was headed home. 

The chances of a meeting like this are almost slim to none…but this time none left town!  I thought I’d at least get a 15 minute reprieve from my bad mood.  We got a chance to catch up (Jody being a graduate student and full-time nurse, not to mention a wife to one and friend to many…yeah, her hours are limited) and I got to see her new hair style in person.  To my delight Jody was hungry and had carved out an hour or two to eat…and now I got to be her date.  Two gals, hitting the town at noon on a sunny Friday…for me it was pure luxury!  We ate great food, enjoyed a cocktail or two, but most importantly I had a much needed attitude adjustment.  And if it weren’t for the “stupid bus ride” that I dreaded, I would not started my weekend out so wonderfully.  No, that day I didn’t have a chance to take in fellow passengers…nope I just got to soak in the company of just the person I needed to see.  If she threw a party and invited everyone she knew, she would see the biggest gift would be from me and the card attached would say “Thank you for being a friend”.  (Jody and I are equal lovers of The Golden Girls).

And here’s to your weekend, readers.  I hope some if not most of your time is spent with someone who lifts your spirits, or gives you what ever it is you need.  I’ll toast to that!