Tribute

I’ve spoken before about my good friend Michael.  (Don’t confuse him with my husband, whose name is also Michael.  I just really like the name Michael.)  Mike, my friend, came over on Easter Sunday and we rummaged through my box of old pictures.  Looking over our history together made me ponder our friendship and how extraordinary it is. It also reminded me of how much I appreciate my dear friend.

Michael is my oldest friend – oldest, as in, I’ve been friends with him longer than anyone else.  I don’t want you to think that he’s 75 years old or something.  That would be creepy if I was friends with a geezer. We met in 9th grade Geometry class and I certainly never thought we would still be friends 21 years later.  21 years!   That’s a lot of memories.

When I met Mike, he was sporting Rustler jeans with a tucked in screen-printed wolf t-shirt.  His hair was so severely parted to one side that he had a poofy comb-over that looked as if it was housing a small animal.  I don’t think he was wearing black tennis shoes with Velcro tabs, but they would have been the appropriate accompaniment to his outfit.  He was the smartest kid in the class and also the biggest nerd.  I was too shy to talk to anyone else so I figured he was a safe choice for conversation.  I also figured he’d be an asset to me since I suck at Geometry.  I was correct on both accounts.  He’s the only reason I passed that class…and not because he patiently tutored me but because he let me cheat off his paper.

It didn’t take long for Mike to emerge from his nerd cocoon and quickly become one of my best friends.  We were inseparable in high school and had an enormous amount of fun together.  Mike has been one of the great blessings in my life and I’m grateful that I passed a note to that awkward guy back in 9th grade.  He has been with me for major milestones and has been a constant in my life.  I know that if I called Mike right now and said I needed his help, he would come to my rescue without hesitation.  I also know that he would make fun of me if I needed his help for a silly reason.   

Mike possesses a lot of traits that I love and admire.  He is intelligent, generous, witty, feisty, driven, loyal, and sincere.  He is professionally successful and works hard to accomplish goals.  I love that he calls me Booney-Macarooney and is friends with everyone in my family, I love that Eva knows him as Uncle Mike, and I love that we will always be friends.  He is amazing.

Mike and I haven’t lived in the same state since we graduated from high school.  The years and the distance between us has not dulled our friendship.  About 18 months ago, Mike moved to Portland.  Having him live only an hour away brings me joy and I treasure being able to see him regularly.  After all of these years, Mike is not just my friend, he truly is my family.

Well…he’s my brother-from-another-mother, of course.  His legs are so short no one would ever believe we’re blood relatives.