Today I got a surprise phone call and, for once, the good kind. "Heeeello," a warm wave of calm washed over me when I heard her voice for the first time in ages. This was a fellow kindred spirit; one of my best friends from high school. She moved to Texas after we graduated to go to medical school. On the rare occasion, I got to see her for an hour here and there when she came home for the holidays. Otherwise we would go long stretches without a word, though we always managed to pick up wherever we left off. I typically get phone calls from her when she's terribly upset so I assumed as much when I saw her number. In fact that was the case, however this time she sounded calm.
"I opened it," she said.
"Opened what?"
"The envelope you gave me at graduation."
"I don't remember that. What did it say?" I asked, slightly impatient due to the fact that my ten minute break at work was almost over.
"In the back of the photo album you gave me, you left me a note. You labeled it, 'save for a rainy day.' Today was a rainy day. This one hurt me bad, Heather. I have looked at it many times over the past six year and told myself to save it for when I really needed it. I finally opened it today." She sounded defeated, but still slightly happy.
"Save for a rainy day, huh? What was in it?" I racked my brain trying to remember what I might have put in there.
"You said that even though we were miles apart you would always be there for me. I could open it if I needed you…"
It all came back to me; I had given her a college survival kit for graduation. There were ten little gifts inside all labeled as to why I gave them to her, mostly inside jokes we had with each other; things about dancing, swim team, Burger King, toilet paper, cat litter (if you don't know, don't ask). One of the gifts was a grow-your-own sunflower kit which I gave her because she had always reminded me of a sunflower. She is this gorgeous cheery blonde who makes everything just feel warmer. Much like a sunflower, she always redirects herself towards the sun. The best part was the photo album of my favorite pictures of us. I had put an envelope in the back with a note for emergencies. As it turns out, I had put an essay I had written in school about an important person in my life. It was about how she and I had met and how we had always been there for each other like sisters. I had forgotten all about it. Sometimes I amaze even myself. Even at seventeen, I was a creative and thoughtful gift-giver.
She called to tell me thanks you and that she loved me. Of course she called to vent about the most recent relationship crisis - we are scheduled to hash out her "man issues" tomorrow – yeeeeaaaaah… (note the hint of sarcasm). It definitely made my day to hear from her. It was a much needed reminder that some do appreciate the positive energy I try to give out all the time.
You are my sunshine and I am your North Star. I love you Meag J