With names like Instigator and Problem Child you know that we have our share of mishaps on the Playground. Trouble seems to follow us. We have a list of rules that include no sharp objects for PC. When Mickey blares from the speakers we all sit down. When booking a hotel brand name doesn't always equal safe. Packing less is always preferable to repacking in the middle of the airport lobby. No colored drinks over white carpet. Foundation garments should be worn at all times when entering public space.Not all of these 'accidents' are our fault. I mean, we didn't choose the hotel room with the meth lab on the other side of the wall. Despite that, there are a couple of truths we've learned from the mishaps. For the last couple years when we attend RWA national conference PM will check in long enough to remind us not to get in trouble and that she won't bail us out of jail. And she's right, she won't. Not because we won't get in trouble (because considering our track record I'm seriously waiting for that to happen) but because I know she'll be in that jail cell right beside us. And as far as I'm concerned that's the true meaning of friendship.
A good friend will bail you out of jail. But a great friend will be sitting beside you in the cell. And these women are great friends. Not only would they most likely be involved in any hair-brained scheme that might find me arrested, if they weren't involved they'd be right there beside me trying to explain to the officer exactly what I was doing and why it isn't illegal.
A great friend is one that will come up with the solution to your problem and then help you execute the plan. A great friend is one that will experience everything with you - highs, lows, good and bad and love you more because of those moments. The women I've found on the playground are great friends and I'm lucky to have them in my life (because you never know when I'll need company in that jail cell!)
Tell me about the trouble your best friend(s) bailed you out of or the moment they helped you the most. I'll be picking one commenter to win a prize from my goodie stash.
Instigator
P.S. We've just learned that Raintree:Haunted by our very own Maven Linda Winstead Jones is up for Best Romance Book of 2007 on Amazon.com. I know many of you read the Raintree books and commented how much you enjoyed them. If you'd like, you can vote for Haunted here. We're very excited for Maven LJ!
30 comments:
Sorry, hold on two seconds..METH LAB???? Do i want to know? lol
Hmm..Oh i know, my best friend in college got kicked out of a class with me, i didn't have my book (it was marx and engles, could you blame me?)but she did, so she said she didnt have it and we both got kicked out and spent the lesson having fun instead. best philosophy lesson ever =D
I liked that you had to wear "foundations" in public. I haven't heard that term since I was 16 years old, working at W.T. Grant Co. in the foundations department. (extremely embarrassing for a 16 year old)
I was 21 and went up to northern Wisconsin with a friend. After 1 night in a bare bones cabin, we woke up and said "Let's drive to South Carolina." We did and she met her future husband. I just drank alot (hey, I was only 21).
In planning a special event in our family's life, one family memember gave us so much grief and my 3 special friends let me vent and gave me so much support and made me feel better in a very stressful trying time.
Awww, Instigator, what a sweet post.
Technically, I guess we have broken the law together. Or is trespassing across railroad tracks a law or a fine in Scotland? :)
But we didn't get caught! And the view of Kilchurn was worth it.
Good thing, because PM was not in the country to bail us out of jail. :)
Angel
I couldn't get Blogger to take my post AT ALL yesterday, so belated Happy Birthday (if it takes my post today, that is. I hate Blogger. It's been at least a week since I said that.)
You know you're with friends when they can make you laugh until you pee your pants. That's the true test.
Linda
The verification word is: zgtvlznr. There's something seriously warped about Blogger.
My friends helped me the most when I had breast cancer.
They're helping me now since I lost my cat.
Back in the 80's I drank a lot and did drugs. My friends helped me then as well.
Back when I used to go out drinking my bf would be my driver. She didn't drink so a very good thing! This was before I had my son. I don't drink often now.
Once myself and a few coworkers got kicked out of a Baskin Robins while we were on a business trip. So embarassing. Not exactly as cool as getting kicked out of a bar or something. :)
The meth lab story starts here and ends here.
I was always too afraid of getting caught to get in real trouble. So no wild tales from me.
I guess the time my friends helped the most was my freshman year in college. I'd completed my first quarter, gone home for quarter break/Christmas holidays and then my dad died on January 1st. He died on a Thursday, we had his funeral on Saturday and on Sunday I went back to school to begin the next quarter. I'd offered to stay at home but my mom wanted me to keep going if I could because my dad was so proud I'd gone to college. I was the first in the family to do so. I had a great group of friends at the Wesley Foundation and my mom called ahead to let the minister know what had happened. They were all there for me and got me through it.
Three months later was the trip to NYC and getting bombed (with a pipe bomb, not drink or drugs) in a Greenwich Village disco.
PM
Friends stand by each other no matter what. Even when a friend does something incredibly stupid, a true friend stands by trying to be the voice of reason. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But a friend is always there.
On a lighter note, friends are often found forging counselor passes and doing silly things to impress each other. I like what Linda said, great friends laugh until they make each other pee their pants.
Great friends know what to say or when not to say anything at all.
Great post, Instigator!
Sadly, most lessons are learned the hard way--like sharp objects and foundation garments.
I see PM has already posted the link to the meth lab story. I don't know how to post links, but I can tell you that sharp object stories are in July of 2006 (Atlanta RWA conference), Mickey and foundation garments are RWA Dallas (July 2007). The archives are full of proof of *why* we have the rules we do.
Angel, I don't think we ended up as lawbreakers after all. My in-laws said the controversy was all cleared up and we were okay with what we did. But the possibility of law breaking did add an edge of excitement, right?
Waaah, I think I just realized I've never done anything so daring I could wind up in jail. How boring!
LOL, word verif: towzooie. Am I being told I need to do something that packs punch? Something spicy? Daring?
Blogger is a bitch, but I think its prescient.... :)
My best friend has been with me since high school and we've been out a while. In 2005 I was in the hospital 11 times to deal with a nasty kidney stone. She can always make me laugh which help lighten me up for a while I also tried to sign in yesterday and couldn't get through
My friends helped me when my cats died. They would listen to me talk about them and helped me to feel better. I did the same. We are always there for each other.
Just hang out with us a little more, Lynn. We're bound to at least get you a dose of public humiliation if not the potential for incarceration. :)
I have a friend who I can always count on. Any time I need a ride to work when one of our vehicles is in for repair, she always offers me a ride. When my grandmother passed away, she went to the funeral home to pay her respects and offered to do whatever I needed during the difficult time. She is a true friend and I treasure her friendship.
Well, in sopohomore and junior year math I helped a friend with the work and all, even though I was just as lost in the sophomore year. LOL In my yearbook senior year she mentioned the thanks that I helped her pass those years, otherwise she probably wouldn't have. LOL :)
Lois
PC, why couldn't you leave me with the impression that just once I'd done something naughty? Oh well.
Speaking of laughing, my hubby (who I consider to be my bestest best friend), can always find something humorous to say or do to lighten things up. I'll never forget when I was in the hospital a few times. We'd be waiting (why do you always have to wait so long in the hospitals?), and he'd be bored, so he'd start playing around and goofing off. He'd mess with the equipment or do something I was sure would get us into trouble, just to make me laugh or even just smile. That was a rough time, and I'm so glad for those happy memories now. I still smile when I think about him being there for me. So wonderful!
Angel
But, Angel, we didn't know that AT THE TIME.
So the delicious feeling still counts...
I think being there just to listen and let you vent is the best thing a friend can do for another. I have a friend who is a single mother and by the time I had kids I was a stay at home mother so I was there to help out when needed. In turn I'm not much of a driver and she has taken me many places I'd never get to go. We also take care of each other's cats when we get the chance to take a few days away. Our one joke is she goes more often but only has two cats while I don't go very often but have 7 so it really evens out.
Run, Lynn, run!
*g*
PM
When I lost my mother my best friend drove almost 200 miles to be there for me. She helped me through a very difficult time and knew how close my mother and I were.
My best friend in high school usually helped me get in trouble. lol. We skipped one day and the next day we both got detention.
My best friend has always been supportive and helpful. When I decided to leave school and return home she was there for me. Giving me advice, taking me out and getting me settled into a new life.
Hmm,, my best firend in college convinced me to hitch hike with her. the guy who picked us up told us he was on his way to heaven and we could join him. We had to some some pretty wuick talking to get this guy to let us out. When he did we had no clue where we were. my password won't work Debby
My best friend mostly bailed me out when we were much younger. Often, from enjoying the drinking and disco dancing a wee bit much and helping me find my way home. Oh, and steering me away from those bad boys who wanted to take me home. lol Of course, I paid her back by helping her in similar situations.
My best friend has always been there for me thru thick and then. When my husband passed away I fell apart. She was my life line, she helped me thru it with the kids and just by being there.
My best friend and I have always been there for each other
My bff helped me through a divorce and when I moved to the province she lived in her and her dh let me live with them until I got a job and a place to live.
Post a Comment