Awesome Recent Friend Moments

— Alex left me a phone message 2 days ago. She’s a wonderfully articulate woman, but her message went something like this: [Said in a very dramatic serious voice, launching right into it – no “hi, how are you”, nothing like that]: “Sheila, I am so obsessed with Shirley Bassey right now that I’m actually a little bit afraid. I literally wake up thinking about her.” [Long frightened pause] “I have no idea how this has happened. I just … don’t know how it happened. I do not know how this has happened. I can’t stop. Sheila, how has this happened?” [She knows she’s asking the right person – as I pop in “Married to the Mob” for the 10th time in 2 weeks. How has this happened? But she keeps going.] “I’m quite serious. How has it happened? I can’t stop thinking about Shirley Bassey. I have downloaded songs, I have a 74 page document about her that I have to print out, I just have no idea what is happening to me right now. And I think somehow it has something to do with Dean Stockwell.” [hahahahahahahahahaha The symbiosis of obsession] “I think somehow your obsession with him – and please, the guy is such a genius – he’s a genius – Carol Burnett? Who DOES that? I love actors like that. I love actors who think outside of the box. He’s extraordinary. And I think somehow your obsession with him has helped me open the floodgates. But I’m scared a little bit. Sheila, my first thought when I wake up is of Shirley Bassey. How has this happened? Call me.” Click.

— Phone message from Allison – I haven’t seen her in about a month, but we email – and she’s been reading my blog so she’s up to date. After my kickboxing post she calls me and leaves a message: “Hi Sheila! I miss you! First of all, I have to tell you that I taped a special on Jeffrey Dahmer and you HAVE to see it – I have it saved for you – and also I am so psyched that you’re doing this kickboxing thing! I think it’s gonna be so great for you. You’re gonna be able to get rid of all your pent-up SHIT!!” I laughed out loud hearing that. Yes!!

— a good friend of a certain current obsession of mine emailed me. A correspondence has begun. I love my blog.

— Mitchell called me. I was in the grocery store, mulling over low-fat mozzarella. The connection was horrible so he went in and out. Here is what I heard before we got cut off: “Sheila, I just saw World According to Garpfor the first time in years and I HAVE to talk about it … that film is so well-acted …” [long blackout period where I could not hear him. I comparison shopped in the dairy aisle, saying into my phone, “Mitchell? hello? Garp? Yes! Love it … are you there??] “First of all … the actors are just so ….” [blackout period … could not hear what he was saying. Then he surged back in …] “… and I had forgotten how PISSED that book is. How ANGRY it is …” [blackout … then his voice came back …] “Every single actor in that movie is just perfect …” [Disconnected for good. But I loved that he had to call me to rave about that movie.]

— On July 4th, at 10:30 pm my phone rang and it was Keith M., the boy I loved when I was 9 and 10 years old – who is now back in my life because of this here blog! He was on a motorboat by himself in the middle of a lake, two time zones away from me, he was watching fireworks, had a cooler of beer with him, and thought of me. We talked and laughed and bantered until it began to rain in his time zone – he was like, “Yeah, uhm, it’s kind of pouring right now …” and I pleaded with him to go back to land and be safe. “Please don’t pull an Ordinary People on me!!” He gave me some wild compliments, vastly over-stating my charms and refused to let me be self-deprecating. And I tried! I opened my mouth to protest, to talk him down – I didn’t even say anything – but he could FEEL it and cut me off: “I don’t want to hear one word from you right now … let me finish … and you just be quiet and listen!” So I shut up and let him compliment me. My childhood friend. I am so grateful.

— Friday night. After a day of deadly mugginess and stillness, the heavens opened. Rain battered the windows 29 floors up – and we could see forks of heat lightning jagging across the sky. It seemed close enough to touch. We put on raincoats and ran downstairs. The rain was so heavy that the gutters had become rushing boiling rivers and Jen and I frolicked in the rain, dancing on the sidewalk, standing there, heads thrown back, mouths open, polluted rain pouring down our throats. We laughed and screamed at every fork of lightning – and laughed as dismayed (and laughing) passersby raced for cover. Nobody was grumpy even though everyone was caught out without an umbrella. The rain was cold too. Heavenly. Jen and I sloshed back up to her apartment, soaking wet, and exhilarated.

— Sitting around the pool with Beth, Mere, and Michele (the only non-perfect thing was the absence of Betsy!) – candles lit, Gilligans Island palms swaying, drinking wine, eating food, and talking about everything under the sun. Marriage, edible squash flowers, Beth’s new dog, work, magnetic sexual connections, kickboxing, family … long overdue, we haven’t been together in a long time.

I am blessed.