Yesterday Sterling gave me the gift of time travel. Not the
Marty McFly type (still waiting!) but more like a trip down memory lane. While
we were putting off washing our car without a hose (longish story), he started
playing some throwback jams. I’m talking Bone Thugs N’ Harmony, Coolio, Puff
Daddy (before his umpteenth name change and JLo), Warren G, 2Pac and Hanson. I
know, we’re super gangster. Especially with that last one.
So naturally the throwback jams led me to a favourite
pastime, playing Nintendo. And that led to reminiscing.
I will never forget a sleepover at my friend Amanda
Whiting’s. We were always good for shenanigans at those sleepovers. She had
this pool table and a music player in the basement. Perfect ingredients for
good times to be had.
So it must have been Grade 5 or 6 (fifth or sixth grade for
my American comrades) when we busted out Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise at
Amanda’s birthday party. Being the cool kids we were, we made up a dance and
rapped along “minute after minute, hour after hour”. Or at least for the length
of the party.
What transpired yesterday led to some awkwardness…and a
letdown…and a subsequent therapeutic car washing.
I went to go send Amanda, and a couple of friends from that
party, the link to Gangsta’s Paradise with the plan to instigate what would
hopefully be a fond remembrance of good times. To my dismay, I found I’m no longer Facebook friends with two
of the girls. Ouch. Thank you Amanda for hanging in there. I’m happy to read
updates about your moves and schooling and marital bliss, even though I never
tell you as such. My apologies.
So if you’re reading this and are considering ending our
virtual friendship, please don’t click the dreaded ‘unfriend’ button. Just
don’t.
I’m awful at keeping in touch but I do creep on your walls
when you least expect it (sounds even creepier in print) and I do
sporadically...like once a decade…give in to the urge to take friends down
memory lane with a song or quick recap of an epic time. I read your blogs. I
laugh at your outtakes. My heart hurts at your sorrows.
I’m trying to do better. Actually, this January 1st I made a
dreaded resolution that I’m slightly sucking at. I resolved to write a snail
mail letter each week. I’ve written a handful now but am slacking at tracking
down addresses to send them to. So, if you’re reading this and would like to
help me finish this 52-letter resolution, fire me a private message with your
address. I’ll try not to disappoint.
Cheers to staying in touch and keepin’ it real.
