I get by with a little help from my friends...

As part of my slow morning routine I watch the Today show. Yeah, it isn't exactly the best source of current events, but I find that war, disease, and shameless politicians simply starts the day off with negativity ... I definitely don't need any more of that. So, apparently there was some scandalous rumor that Oprah and her bestfriend, Gayle, were gay (By the way, I hate hollywood rumors and try to know as little as possible about the lives of the rich and famous - damn the Today show). This made me think of M.
Ask me who my bestfriend is and I can think of a couple of people. J. is my partner and no doubt a "bestfriend" but its comforting to have my girls. My cell phone minutes are actually determined by how much I speak with M. My mom and I talk for often and long, but M. and I talk, literally, for hours.
We met in Human Sexuality. She was (and is) a fun loving hippy girl, sitting in the back row near me. We met another friend and so there was three. M. and I have a platonic love affair though. Now, we're thousands of miles a part and as close as ever. She has taken me to the hospital, sat with me for hours when J. was having so many problems, let me live with her for a week, and has always, always been there to help me feel young again.
Today there are mounds of Hallmark greeting cards and a list I carry in my purse of all the things she loves about me. There are text messages of song lyrics and movie lines. When I do drink (which is like twice a year) it is with her and there is no crying or sentimental drunkeness - just a good time.
Then there is Sam. In fourth grade there was only one cool person in Mrs. Ogle's class - Miss Samantha. We made an exploding volcano for the science fair, our first training bras, an introduction to swearing, and then band practice. I moved away soon, but by the end of junior high I traveled back a few times for some of the early days of partying. We were able to share music and politics - both of which she rocks. Years went by and then she got me a job. This job changed my life because I met J there. Now there is a little one and a husband, but the emails continue and she even got me to start blogging. I am ridiculously excited when I see her name in my inbox and check her blog nearly daily. No matter how long its been we seem to pick up right where we left off.
When I was first married I just went through dad's tragic death and was battling the shock - my social skills have been hindered ever since. I lost myself in J. for a while, becoming one of those women that define themselves by their husbands. As the past three years have gone by I have slowly been able to stand on my own. We've become partners instead of "one." Without my friends I don't think I could have done it. I get by with a lot of help from my friends...