Friends Are Dope

"I never thought Charles would really stick in my life," I told Kwesi this morning. The way Charles and I met, on the age old social medium Black Planet, some 22 years ago never screamed, "This guy will be your friend 22 years from now." But as time's passed, through various seasons in each of our lives ... college, courting, entrepreneurship, marriage, divorce, children, miscarriage, losing long-time loved ones, and now a pandemic, we've kept in touch, and I see how we really care for each other.

Remember When?

Yesterday, it felt good, having a hard time remembering as Kwesi, Charles, and I tried to figure out the different times we've seen each other and what year this and that happened. I realized how many attempts we've made to keep up with each other, separated by state lines and all. This speaks well of friendship.

I know life happens in seasons, and as I mature, I'm learning to appreciate what I get to learn in each one. God's teaching me compassion and patience with life and my development through it. In turn, I'm able to appreciate people and relationships on a greater, more enriching level; and for this I'm thankful. I could imagine what life would be like without God leading the way, but I don't really want to because it'd end as a nightmare, even if it was dressed with opulence and seemingly good things.

Socially Distanced Reunion

So, after hanging out in a park down the street from our house, trying to ignore the fact that the nice Baltimore day had swiftly shifted to abruptly cool, and laughing at the fact that Charles doesn't understand why dirt bikes are even a thing here in Baltimore since "it ain't no dirt" here [as he put it], the boys, Kwesi, Charles, his lovely lady Maisha, and I headed back to the house, took a socially distanced selfie outside and parted ways. And just for the few hours we were in each others' company, I felt so cool for having a friend, of several seasons, who would bring himself and his lady out of the way to come kick it with Kway and me with the short time they had remaining here in Maryland.

Friends are dope!