Feel Good

8th grade. New school. New faces. Shy me. On the first
day I met A. Standing outside with her backpack so
tight against her shoulder and her perfectly curled
long hair. We were both so shy, it is amazing we even
said hi to each other. From that day on, A and I
became best friends. Actually sisters. Sisters that
love each other, sisters that hate each other, sisters
that fight like cats and dogs and sisters that would
do anything for each other.

A was always very inhibited. But, I lost that once
high school came and some of our differences began
then, but never tore us apart. She was wise. She was
often mistaken for being out of college, nevermind a
14 year old. She was brilliant. Still is. But, never
did anything with the genius she had.

I went to college. She didn't. I traveled the world.
She didn't. She wanted to do these things, but never
did. She always held back.

A few months after I announced my engagement to Mr.
Sweets, A announced her engagement to her drug addict,
gambling addict, sex addict, alcoholic boyfriend. The
celebration for her was nothing like the celebration
for mine. And this was where the friendship went
downhill. The sisterhood was swaying heavily towards
the cats and dogs.

To make a really long and not too sweet story short,
we grew apart and it was mainly a matter of her and
her husband.

My wedding was a small intimate ceremony with the most
love I've ever felt in one room. Mr. Sweets and i
still watch our video and say that it was the best day
of our life that far. The celebration was extreme and
the emotions were beautiful. Her wedding was a dash
ceremony consisting of her, her husband, the officiant
and a cold courthouse. Not to mention the belly she
had with the baby boy along the way. That baby boy has
turned into the biggest blessing of this whole story.

Her husband has turned into the biggest nightmare.

Oh, yeah, I was making this short. So to make this
brief - she filed for divorce. He was served. He
signed.

Amazingly enough, as her life is in complete disaray
with a list as long as the Neverending Story, she's
back. My friend from years ago is back. She never told
me the last few years of their problems, though I
suspected it had to be cause of our diminishing
friendship. But, when the you know what hit the fan,
she divulged everything to me and I know it felt good
for her.

Yesterday I went to see her. We took the 2 1/2 hour
drive to her parents house and the boys played
together and all we did was enjoy them. On my way
there I stopped at a grocery store that has a huge
section of gift cards ranging from gas cards, Toys R
Us cards, Gap, Macy's, Groceries and American Express
Cash cards.

I loaded up on them. I put them in a bag with a
beautiful card and bottle of bath bubbles for her son.

She opened it after we left and this morning I got a
message from her. With uncontrollable sobs, she told
me that words couldn't express her gratitude. At the
same time, she was reassuring her boy that mommy was
ok.

Her husband has done a number on her and she has
nothing.

Once upon a time, I thought I could never help her out
because of the distance between us. But now. Helping
has never felt so good.

I am selfish in that way. Just like my grandma. I love
to give, but I do it selfishly. Yeah, it makes me feel
good and that's why I do it. So I guess I'm selfish.

She's a smart woman. A wonderful mother. She is strong
and now she has to be the strongest for her son. I
hope this is the turning point in her life. I wish for
her all the happiness in the world.