Will the drama in my life ever end? Not anytime soon. Last Thursday night I was driving home from my part time job. I was stopped at a red light, when a minivan plowed into the back of my car. I was jerked forward and my car was pushed through the intersection (even though my foot was firmly planted on the brake). I was dazed to say the least. The police showed up and offered to call an ambulance. I declined the offer, but by the time the police had left the scene I was having trouble focusing my eyes and I had a splitting headache. I decided to drive myself to the emergency room. (Actually, it took a lot of convincing via cell phone by both Marvan and Bridget, to get me to drive there.)
Having to go to the emergency room is an awful experience. However, having to go to the emergency room by yourself is even worse! As I sat there… by myself, with my head aching… I started to have a pity party. (And no Marvan… you weren’t invited:)
I was all alone in this big city (these big cities if you want to be technical). All of my family lived out of state; many of my closest friends moved away after graduation; and I didn’t have a boyfriend! I’ve never been the kind of girl that “had to be in a relationship”; in fact my relationship track record is scant to say the least. But at that moment in my life, I thought to myself…this would be an ideal time to have a boyfriend. I got a lump in my throat (my pity party was turning into a full on bash).
My cell phone rang… it was Bridget, she was calling back to make sure I got to he hospital all right. “How’re you feeling pumpkin?”
I tried to hide the lump in my throat, “I’m okay… Um, I’m a little shaken up and my head hurts, but I’m okay…”
“Well it’s your own fault dipsh*t… you should have been wearing your seat belt.” (Oh by the way… I wasn’t wearing my seat belt.) Within a matter of seconds Bridget had single handedly busted up my pity party.
Then Bridget made me feel better, she said, “Where’s Dutch? How are you getting home if they don’t let you drive?”
“Dutch” is one of my closest friends. We go all the way back to high school. Hhhmmm, Bridget had a point… I had no way of getting home.
I responded, “Well, I haven’t called Dutch, because he has to work tomorrow and he’s probably already asleep.” (I have deep psychological issues with asking people to help me… it’s a long story.)
“Jane, you need to call Dutch right now! He would want to know if you’re waiting in the E.R. by yourself. I’m hanging up and you’re calling him!”
I dialed Dutch’s number. He was there in less than 20 minutes and stayed with me until 3:30 a.m. Then he took me to Perkins for breakfast. We talked, ate and joked around making up fake diagnoses for my injuries (shaken brain syndrome). He dropped me off at my apartment (which is less than a quarter mile from his).
I gave him a hug, “Thanks for hanging out at the E.R. with me. I’m really sorry that it ruined your night, but I really appreciated it.”
“Jane, stop being ridiculous… it didn’t ruin my night and I didn’t mind at all. The nurses in your room were really hot! You know you should definitely go back there if you feel any residual effects from the accident. I’ll definitely come with!” We both laughed.
“You’ll be the first person I call Dutch.”
That night I had an epiphany. Dating is for the birds! (But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop anytime soon.) Boy Friends blah, they come and go! However, Best Friends… well, Best Friends are something special. They’re your surrogate family… they fill the role of Husband, Wife, Mother, Father, Brother and Sister. That’s a huge responsibility and the good ones always seem to rise to the occasion. (Thank God!)
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