The Ones We Can Count On

Over the weekend, I found myself listening Maybe Roses, a CD by my good friend Alexander O'neill. When I came to the end of the CD, I was floored by three tracks that I had forgotten even existed. These final three tracks were live recordings from my birthday in 2002. Three tracks that Alex decided to play, spur of the moment, and record for posterity as a birthday gift.

The first track opens with Alex saying "You're going to remember this for the rest of your life." At the time, I couldn't have agreed more. But how, only 3 years later, could I have totally forgotten this experience. How does something you consider to be impossibly memorable completely disappear from your consciousness? After listening to the songs, the night came back to me, but why did it take this catalyst for me to remember it? It was my 21st birthday, the one that is supposed to change everything and be remembered for the rest of your life. Now, it's not even a blip on the memory radar.

Alex skipped his classes that afternoon because I asked him to celebrate my birthday. He was the only one. Everyone else waited until it was convenient for them. (I am also forever in debt for my roommate, CRD, for taking me out at midnight and buying my first legal beer, don't think I forgot about that Chris). This kind of loyalty is rare, or at least it has been for me. It is because of this that loyalty is what I value above all else.

For the people I consider to be my true friends, I would lie down in traffic for them. I would drop every and anything if they needed me to. The moment I realize that a person would not do this for me, I close myself off. It doesnt matter how long I have known the person, I just don't see the point of keeping someone in my life that may, at one point somewhere down the road, betray me. This may be an unreasonable fear and a bit idealistic. But when it comes to friendship, idealistic is how it should be. This attitude is the reason why so many people don't last very long in my social circle. But as for those who have been there for long enough (G, CRD, Lexx O, Birbs), I'm sure they'll agree with me that this is how a friendship should be.