Charles McKeithan

Freinds

Yep. Missspelled on purpose. I thinks it's an artsy way of continuing down my path of non-conformity. This time around the spot light goes to my precious and rare freind Beth. Her name is actually Lisabeth, and if you know me then you know it took several years to get just the first part right. I usually avoid last-naming on the Web unless it's my and myself cuase we wouldn't be here if we didn't want to be out there. But lets just say her last name took twice s long to get right and if she's reading this she knows that if she picked up the phone and called me right now I would have a 70 % failure at spelling it correctly even after years and years of inner circle freindship.

Beth is one of those people at parties that if you wern't paying attention, you might not have seen she was there. And you would have paid dearly for the loss. She is not like me in the desire to be sure that EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT ME. She likewise is not quick to hide behind the phicas plant and hope to drink her beverage in peace. She watchs. She thinks. She Perceives. She is equally comfortable discussing the social nuances of Victorian era politics and the choice of music tracks for Night Dreams
. In short: She Rocks.

I have the dubious honor of having been through two terms in the California correctional system, many years ago. There were few people whom I looked forward to getting mail from durring that time. yet those who were committed to my ceribral salvation were steadfast in their loyalty. Her Husband trumps all in consitant loyalty, but Beth would have given him a run for his money if she had but known me prior to my first downfall.

Other inmates would glance at the envelope and give the usual line of questoining.

"family?"
no, a freind
"ol' lady"?
not really no
"got any spread shots"?
.....no. (as in feck off you twit)

the spidery freehand scipt was quiet a camofluage for the depth and insight within. page after page of sanity holding my shaky hand and making no demands that I remain with the rest of the universe, but giving me a light at the end of the tunnel that did not give false hope. Hers was no searchlight blinding the tunnel walker to the tons of steel train barreling down behind it. Her light was one of soft amber incandecence. A forty watt lamp in a wall papered Americana livingroom that gave a softening glow to the nicknacks and heirlooms around it. It spoke of acceptance and of undemanding freindship.

She was one of the grooms-man in my wedding. Not becuase I could not find enough men to match my fiance's list of bridesmaids, but becuase if I could have only two people to stand by me, She would have been just to the right of the best man. (Proof of their excellent taste and intelligence, my best man later married that groomsman)

And so we get back to my misspelled concept of freindship. Everyone will tell you they have friends. Best friends, girlfriends,boyfriends, just-friends, hommies, buds, pals. and on it goes.

I have some of those, but mostly, I have people that I like and enjoy the company of , and then I have freinds. You can argue with real freinds. Debates are for pussies. I mean real, Anger driven shocked and insulted, realm altering fights. And they are still Freinds. Becuase they love you. And becuase you love them. Freindship surrives that kind of thing.

If I want applause, I go to my friends.If I want an ohonest assesment of the situation, I go to people like Beth. She respects herself enough to be honest, and respects me enough to tell it like it is.

Frankly I am suprised that I started this blog before she broke into the blogging concept. for a taste -> http://www.livejournal.com/users/kid_lit_fan/
I hope that if you are reading this. you too have freinds.

Posted by cmckeithan at April 10, 2004 01:11 AM