Hey, Watchya Doin?

A lot of than 2 decades ago, Paula came to work in the task space where we have a tendency to shared an office.

She had been given the position I had been vying for. It did not appear in the least fair. I labored to create her feel uncomfortable and unwanted.

However as a result of of her indomitable spirit she kept pressing onward together with her positive perspective, generous smile, and infectious friendliness.

But I wasn't easily won over. I used to be miserable and worked overtime to counter her goodness.

Deep down I had to admit there wasn't a lot of concerning her to not like. She was Pollyanna and I used to be "The Bad Seed."

Shame and guilt eventually created me feel loathsome. Perhaps she saw through my bristly facade. I truly hope at the time there was some essence of good that glinted from my soul's innards. I am guessing there was and she or he coaxed that spider silk thread out with her charm and began to weave the internet of our friendship.

Understandably, a friendship may be a 2-means mechanism. A relationship functions best when each individuals proffer the finest qualities from their heart and soul. I had a lot of catching up to do and, according to my nature, I extended myself wholeheartedly.

Her friendship was a shining gem that sparkled brightly before my eyes. What she offered was beyond description or value. The bond that 2 beings will cement which lasts a lifetime... Friendship!

The saying, "Hey, watchya doin'?" became a part of our bitter, joyous, disheartening, thrilling, ecstatic, crushing, and wondrous happenings that living life brings.

Those were the words I stammered the night I drove over to her house and apologized for how I had treated her after we 1st met, admitting I had been cruel.

I ought to have gone to her earlier in our relationship and apologized. She never spoke of my treatment of her in those first days. She never told me that my actions had hurt her.

However once I asked her to forgive me she began to cry and all the pain I had been responsible for was etched on her face. She simply nodded.

Then smiled at me.

We tend to hugged and cried together.

I heard those words from her throughout the rough days when her wedding was falling apart and he or she required to talk. When there was a suicide in the family she spoke that phrase through the tear-choked pain of loss.

Though we not work in the same area, we still work for the identical organization. Irrespective of where the job assignment, stress is half and parcel of the job. And many times we've phoned the other with the question , "Hey, watchya doin'?"

We tend to have seen heartbreaking human suffering, abuse, and loss. As much as we tend to would possibly try to "leave it all at the office" we cannot continuously shove it within the desk drawer, turn off the lights and head home with a peaceful spirit.

It is at such times we have sought solace in each other.

"Hey, watchya doin'?" she said. "Why don't you come on over tonight for dinner? We tend to would like to talk." I did, and she or he introduced me to her fiance -- a wonderful man who would offer her all that she deserved. The thrill of a sensible marriage. She was long overdue!

She has asked me that question when her voice bubbled over with happiness as a result of she wanted to tell me her daughter was engaged. And again, twice, every time she learned her daughter was pregnant.

"Hey, watchya doin'?"

That evening we got together and shared our fears. We tend to were not young women and also the fast dashing reality of years lapsed appeared to hit us at roughly the identical time.

"My people are getting older. Oh, Kathy! I am thus terrified of losingthem."

Tears burned hot in my eyes. "Me, too." My father had died years earlier but my mother and step father were still alive and terribly abundant a part of my life.

"Hey, watchya doin'?" I asked one late afternoon. "I simply dawned from work."

"Why?" she replied.

Emotion choked me as I tried to squeeze the words past my constricted throat. "I've got cancer..."

On another afternoon, when I aroused from sleep from surgery, I saw her face. By her aspect was her youngest daughter. They both smiled tremulously.

Their eyes shimmering wet. Their expressions full of affection and hope. They'd a present and a card for me, but to the present day I cannot tell you what the gift was.

All I saw was the glow of a loving friendship reflecting back to me -- the years we had shared our secrets and hopes, our fears and triumphs.

"Love you!" she said.

"I really like you, too." I garbled roughly through my tears. "Thank you for being my friend."

2 and a half years have passed since that afternoon. We have a tendency to still greet each alternative with that previous phrase. And each now and then we have a tendency to will say...

"Love you! Thanks for being my friend."

And when I say those words, I count myself blessed to possess your friendship, Paula.

"I like you. Thank you..."