Tuesday, July 1, 2008

I Love My Friends




As I have probably said in the past, I have a small, close net group of friends, two of which I have known since I was eighteen (they are the two that I trust the most). These are a group of people that have been there for every major event I have ever experienced in my life; birthdays, holidays, graduation and art shows. Through sickness and health till death do us part…It is like a freaking marriage, I tell you.

Sunday, we went out to celebrate the births of two of my friends. I am happy and looking forward to this event, because I enjoy it when we all get together and plus I know that I have given each of them the gift that they want and can use. Finally I got someone to listen to my request and tell me exactly what it is they would like for their birthday.

Let me explain. I hate to shop! Hate it with a passion. I have a get in/get out mentality, much like the way I approach sex (just kidding). I don’t even like to shop for my damn self, so you can image how I feel shopping for others. I know my friends, but I hating trying to guess what they would like and can actually use. To me the whole purpose of a gift is for it to be practical, and when I say practical I mean something that the person wants. Now, each and every one of my friends know I hate to shop and yet they normally refuse to give me the heads up on what they would like as a gift and I am left to my imagination. I can normally get a great gift but I have to venture through the whole damn store looking for something that I think fits the personality of that friend. That shit sucks. That’s why I never give their happy asses birthday cards. It is their punishment for making me spend undue time at the Mall, Targets or Wally World.
Any, the planning of the actual day we could all sit down and break bread together was not easy. Luck for me I am not a part of the planning of any birthdays. I won’t do it, don’t ask. Just tell me when and where and I will be there. Do I have to work that night? Probably, don’t worry about it. I’ll be there. See? I’m easy. But one of the friends works weird hours and the other one, well she has hated birthdays since we turned twenty-six. They depress her, but we manage to talk her ass into being a part of this little thing we like to do for one another.
We went to a Mexican food restaurant and had a grand ole time. Nobody can make me laugh like my friends, except for me. I make myself laugh like crazy, but that’s just because I am the funniest person I know. However, they do what they can. They had me in tears. We talked about events. What new is going on in each other’s lives. Get updates on what is going on in the lives of the people who could not make it. It was great. I left there with a smile in my heart and on my face and with the knowledge that I have some of the best friends on the face of the earth.
After dinner with friends, I went over my mom’s to see mom and nephew, before I change into my uniform and head off to work. I love my nephew, but yall know that, huh? He is such a ball of energy. He is all boy, as the old folks say. He is strange little bugger though. I was sitting in my mom’s room, talking to my aunt on the phone when he come over to me, grabs my hand, licks it and runs off laughing. NASTY LITTLE BASTARD! (Don’t be offended by the term, I honestly use it as a term of affection. Just ask the people who I work with.) Anyhow, he thinks this is the funniest thing in the world, mainly because he likes the grossed out reaction he gets. I’m telling you, this boy has the weirdest since of humor. I keep asking my little sister what the hell they are teaching him.
On a less gross point, he and I were in the dean area and he was jumping about and stuff. I am trying to look at television, Richie Rich, but watching him be hyper all over the place. Then I notice him as he does a tumble. I DIDN’T KNOW HE COULD TUMBLE. I was impressed. I get to thinking that I have not tumbled in a long, long while so I want to show him that uncle can do it too. So, I get down on all fours. Tuck my head under and push myself over with my legs. Up and over I went! My nephew was over joyed. “AGAIN”, he shouts, in pure joy.
Like hell I will, again. When I tell you that every joint and muscle was cussing me out once my body came to rest, you had better believe it. I never knew how much muscle control and shyt you had to use to do a simple tumble.
“Uncle too old to do it again, Manny. I’m sorry.” LOL. And people want me to have a kid of my own. Just spending time with this boy is going to land my happy ass in the hospital.

-One Man’s Opinion. Peace.

18 comments:

Dreamy said...

One Man i hate to freaking grocery shop. Lord I hate that more than I hate even worse grocery shopping with other people. they got to stop and stare at this and thatt. they have to compare prices shyt just pick something for i do it for you. i be wanting to pull my damn hair out.

so i feel your pain, really i do

you and Manny are too cute. lmao at you that your body was cussing you out.

One Man’s Opinion said...

I can do grocery shopping, actually dreamy. But I don't normally shop for much.

Darius T. Williams said...

So, that tumbling you did...that should be put on youtube - we wanna see it. Shopping isn't THAT bad - I'm not as bad as you, but I don't spend all day in the malls either. And yup, friends are really good to have...especially the kind that can put a smile on your heart.

Anonymous said...

I hate shopping for other people. I'm quick to get a gift card.

I like catching up with friends. Always a goog laugh.

You sure your nephew and my son aren't the same kid? Lol My son will walk up to me and lick my arm.

Princess K's thoughts of the day..... said...

interestingly enough today watching Roschoe Jenkins brought me to tears when thinking about how much love I have from family and friends who are like family. I have had most of my close friends since High School and they are irreplaceable....but I too HATE shopping for them..lol.

arychtexas said...

i like shoppin man its da ish when ya got CASH! when ya broke i hate going any where that i have to use cash....u did a rolling front flip so classic....

Linda said...

*lol*!!!! In teacher school we had a whole bunch of lessons about 'how kids can only tumble from age 5'

Because when they're younger, their head's too big for their body and it just won't work. (in other words: when you're teaching in kindergarten, don't make them tumble, 'cause they can't.)

I bet you REALLY wanted to know that, right? ;)

greetings from holland!

James Tubman said...

I got to do a post on what true friends do

it looks as if you do have true friends though

you are blessed my brother

cathouse teri said...

I hate shopping, too. (And I mean HATE in the strongest sense of the word.) But truthfully, shopping for a gift isn't supposed to be something thoughtless you do. The whole idea of it is to put thought into it. So yeah. It's a sacrifice.

My grandchildren wear me out within an hour or two. I often think, "How the hell did I raise three of these??" But I don't stop at "little bastards" when using terms of endearment. I have been known to call one of my kids and ask if their child is being a fucking asshole again! (If you've seen the show LUCKY LOUIE, you'll get this.)

cathouse teri said...

And to their little faces, I call them "honey." So much so, that my number one granddaughter, at age two, started calling me "Honey Gramma."

One Man’s Opinion said...

Actually, Linda, I thought tumbling was advanced for a three year old. That is why I was so impressed when he did it.

Thank you, Mr. Tubman. I feel blessed.

Yeah, I don't call Manny a bastard to his face, nor do I call him a little monster to his face, although both are said out of love. LOL. Lucky Louie? Is that a movie or some sort of series.

A.Smith said...

I am all about getting in and getting out when it comes to shopping. As a matter of fact, I need to go shopping for a friend's b-day extravaganza myself and I've been putting it off like nobody's business cause it SUCKS.

Meanwhile, you and your nephew are precious, but yeah... in the future, just know that being a kid is hard on the old body. LOL.

Hadassah said...

LOLOL! I love shopping esp for clothes and shoes but what I hate is trying on clothes I hate it with a passion

cathouse teri said...

Lucky Louie was an HBO series. Very funny. :)

fuzzy said...

Am I the only one that likes to go shopping? I just hate the checkout! lol You know the part where you give away your money? yeah, that part! LMAO

Madam Z said...

I love YOU, One Man! You seem like such a good, smart, kind and, most of all, entertaining guy. It's no wonder you have kept the same friends for all these years. Your energetic little nephew is lucky to have you for an uncle.

I have a suggestion for your gift shopping woes. Give the birthday boys and girls GIFT CARDS! They'll love 'em! I've been doing that for several years now, because no one hates shopping worse than I do. No complaints yet.

Stay well and safe, dear one man.

Unknown said...

Gift cards are easy, but they are so impersonal. Makes me sick to want to make the gift fit the person.

Ms Smack said...

I agree with Madam Z. If you must get a girl something, maybe a scarf wrapped around a gift card! She knows what she wants - give her the gift of that!!