![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spazzychic[Error: unknown template qotd]
I've had several best friends over the course of 28.745 years of my life.
My first was named Heather E. I remember her name, and that she lived in a pink apartment building. We were in Kindergarten together in Van Nuys, CA until she moved away to Newhall. The pink apartment building was empty, and I never knew how to find her since I was like, 5. I think on her now and then, and hope that she grew into an amazing life.
I met Melinda in the 4th grade. We were strange and unpopular together. We lived in stories and generally avoided people. I learned about nerdy things from my family and shared it with her. She moved to Boulder City for a while as I went to Jr. High.
After the 94 quake knocked down my house, we moved to a new trailer park. I met the posse of friends I'd have through the rest of my childhood-- Jaimi, Eron, Karla, others. Eron became my best friend. We went to Church together and shared secrets and the bunch of us grew strange and wonderful under the influence of X-Men, Theater and Jesus Christ.
There was that point when things fell apart, and then apart, and then apart. Perhaps my strange but predictable life spun out when Karla became my "best friend" and then more. Then forward in a rush, an avalanche of events. One fateful day, I arrived in Seattle and my whole sense of "best friend" had changed quite a bit. The last almost decade has been aching and wonderful. I wandered from the ideal of "best friend", preferring social circles and community over that one person who could simply be too close to be safe. In a lot of ways, I conducted my romances in a similar but differently-expressed principal.
Then, there was Chuck.
He was an acquaintance, and then a friend. Then there was a Norwescon in 2007 with balcony kisses and shared dreams and waking up hungover to find a lovely man sleeping next to my bed on the floor. He asked to date me twice. Both times I said yes, with varying levels of amusement.
He has been my best friend. I tell him everything. I read recently that a good relationship is a one of deep and silly friendship that could at any moment break out into sex. He took the principals of best friendhood and made something beautiful. He taught me that my blessings have always been many. So much more so now. I have loved. I am loved. I will always be loved.
So no shit, there I was, at my best friend's birthday party. There are pockets of conversation and warmth, partially fueled by horchata liquor (serious! mm!). Chuck had gone for a walk earlier, but I didn't think anything of it.
Around 10pm, Chuck asks me to gather up people. Maybe cake time? I'm all thinking, "What is drunk Chuck gonna do? Am I going to have to tackle him?" But since a good tackle never hurt a party, I sat with the circle of friends and awaited the birthday singing/caking/toast/whatever that was to come.
Then Chuck spoke: "I have everything I want, except one thing." I'm pretty sure he asked me to marry him but I was too stunned and overwhelmed to remember the exact words. He kneeled and the ring was in a little burgundy box. I tackled him after squeaking yes. When he went for the walk earlier? Asked my family for my hand. How COOL IS THAT???
I get to marry my best friend. I have had him for four and a half years and I'll keep him for the rest of my life.
This morning, he asked me again. Just for symmetry sake. I still said yes.
Amber
PS: If this seems a bit disjointed, I blame the occasional cat on my face, the sun, the autumn wind, and the overwhelming joy I feel that defies words.
I've had several best friends over the course of 28.745 years of my life.
My first was named Heather E. I remember her name, and that she lived in a pink apartment building. We were in Kindergarten together in Van Nuys, CA until she moved away to Newhall. The pink apartment building was empty, and I never knew how to find her since I was like, 5. I think on her now and then, and hope that she grew into an amazing life.
I met Melinda in the 4th grade. We were strange and unpopular together. We lived in stories and generally avoided people. I learned about nerdy things from my family and shared it with her. She moved to Boulder City for a while as I went to Jr. High.
After the 94 quake knocked down my house, we moved to a new trailer park. I met the posse of friends I'd have through the rest of my childhood-- Jaimi, Eron, Karla, others. Eron became my best friend. We went to Church together and shared secrets and the bunch of us grew strange and wonderful under the influence of X-Men, Theater and Jesus Christ.
There was that point when things fell apart, and then apart, and then apart. Perhaps my strange but predictable life spun out when Karla became my "best friend" and then more. Then forward in a rush, an avalanche of events. One fateful day, I arrived in Seattle and my whole sense of "best friend" had changed quite a bit. The last almost decade has been aching and wonderful. I wandered from the ideal of "best friend", preferring social circles and community over that one person who could simply be too close to be safe. In a lot of ways, I conducted my romances in a similar but differently-expressed principal.
Then, there was Chuck.
He was an acquaintance, and then a friend. Then there was a Norwescon in 2007 with balcony kisses and shared dreams and waking up hungover to find a lovely man sleeping next to my bed on the floor. He asked to date me twice. Both times I said yes, with varying levels of amusement.
He has been my best friend. I tell him everything. I read recently that a good relationship is a one of deep and silly friendship that could at any moment break out into sex. He took the principals of best friendhood and made something beautiful. He taught me that my blessings have always been many. So much more so now. I have loved. I am loved. I will always be loved.
So no shit, there I was, at my best friend's birthday party. There are pockets of conversation and warmth, partially fueled by horchata liquor (serious! mm!). Chuck had gone for a walk earlier, but I didn't think anything of it.
Around 10pm, Chuck asks me to gather up people. Maybe cake time? I'm all thinking, "What is drunk Chuck gonna do? Am I going to have to tackle him?" But since a good tackle never hurt a party, I sat with the circle of friends and awaited the birthday singing/caking/toast/whatever that was to come.
Then Chuck spoke: "I have everything I want, except one thing." I'm pretty sure he asked me to marry him but I was too stunned and overwhelmed to remember the exact words. He kneeled and the ring was in a little burgundy box. I tackled him after squeaking yes. When he went for the walk earlier? Asked my family for my hand. How COOL IS THAT???
I get to marry my best friend. I have had him for four and a half years and I'll keep him for the rest of my life.
This morning, he asked me again. Just for symmetry sake. I still said yes.
Amber
PS: If this seems a bit disjointed, I blame the occasional cat on my face, the sun, the autumn wind, and the overwhelming joy I feel that defies words.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-09-25 08:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-25 08:41 pm (UTC)A note on what the rings mean...
Date: 2011-09-26 12:13 am (UTC)Re: A note on what the rings mean...
Date: 2011-09-27 05:16 am (UTC)(You do that voodoo so well!)
LOL for "deep and silly friendship that could at any moment break out into sex"... and applause for it too! In fact, applause for the whole schmeer!
no subject
Date: 2011-09-26 01:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-26 07:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-26 03:55 pm (UTC)