Sashook @ Whale
Others jam, we jelly!
Everything seemed right today. The weather went from frigid to cool and breezy, the clouds disappeared giving way to a clear sunlit sky as the sunset dressed itself in her best amber tones. Today was fitting day to celebrate the creation of one of nature's other beauties, my pal Stephanie.
Everything seemed right today. The weather went from frigid to cool and breezy, the clouds disappeared giving way to a clear sunlit sky as the sunset dressed itself in her best amber tones. Today was fitting day to celebrate the creation of one of nature's other beauties, my pal Stephanie.
!
At the risk of her killing me for saying something overly mushy (really, I think just had an International Coffees moment), Stephanie is one of the best things to have ever happened in my life and it's an honor to say that she is my longest friend. Not to say that she is really really tall, but that she is my best friend and I have known her longer than anyone else. Which is really, really cool. We have seniority!
!
Stephanie and I met in 199[cough]4 on the Walt Disney World College Program, a fantastic program that Stephanie would love to tell you more about, where I think we were both wide eyed at our first experience out in the big bad world and frankly, a little nervous. Like knowing when you find your soul mate, Stephanie and I knew that we were 
meant for each other when one simple phrase was uttered that very first night we were introduced:
meant for each other when one simple phrase was uttered that very first night we were introduced:!
"Neil, your bedroom's on fire!"
!
After that, we were inseparable. We laughed at stupid DJ tricks (example, one DJ's tired intro to EMF's unbelievable: "everyone! abcdefghijklmn...OH!"), We fell in love with and subsequently mourned Jeff Buckley, versed ourselves well with the term "pasty," scared ourselves silly by the tiny miniature figures in Dreamflight, made meaningful mix tapes, poured ourselves into elaborate correspondences and in general, hated life away from Disney and each other. Our bond developed and lasted over many anguishes, successes, school terms and eventually, we were reunited in 1997 when I moved to the same sunny locale. Some say it was for the job but I know better. It is hard to survive missing the "cool" piece of your soul.
!
So today I give thanks and celebrate my patron saint of caring, understanding, beauty, class, generosity, sincerity and adoration with this small list of songs that always make me think of her.
!
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Lover, You Should've Come Over - Jeff Buckley
Complainte De La Butte - Rufus Wainwright
Lua - Bright Eyes
Hurt - Nine Inch Nails
Reckless - Tilly and the Wall
White/Discussion - Live
Gentlemen - Afghan Wigs
Mighty K.C. - For Squirrels
Cannon - Self
1 comment:
Ahhhhh! You made me cry! Thank you for your lovely and overly generous poetry. You have made a habit of making me feel like the most special person in the room. From describing your hurt that those oblivious "pasty" guys were blindly taking up space in my USM world while you were so far away, to remembering my Fresh Young Minds T-shirt and e-mail address, you are just incredible.
I am so blessed to have friends like you, Christy, Brad and Mike. Here's to another year of v.hat, Coachella and pop culture adoration.
Betamike, you had me at hello.
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