If you happen to live in Arizona, Tucson particularly, you will note that we do not have all four seasons like other cities do, but rather, only two: summer and winter. It comes unexpectedly, around this time of month, prompting one to put away the thin cotton sheets, and pull out the goose down feather comforters. And though you never prepare for the swift change, it's something that's easy to adjust to. I wish the same could be said for friends.
It was Friday afternoon, and I was getting ready to go to the biggest concert in Arizona: Phooson. A combination of the cities Phoenix and Tucson, Phooson was an idea started by local morning show DJ's John Jay and Rich, that became a music palooza with Enrique Iglesias, Ne-Yo, Fabolous, Jonas Brothers, Paula Deanda and Kat Deluna and a whole bunch of other singers, including 2007 American Idol winner Jordan Sparks. I had planned to go with my friend Maria, but she unfortunately had to cancel, because she thought the concert was on Saturday and switched shifts with a co-worker who was of town. But lucky for me, I did have someone to go with.
Earlier that week, after I found out Maria wouldn’t be attending the concert, I called everyone in Blackberry phonebook, but no one was available. Partially, because it was last minute and partially because the concert was on a Friday afternoon. But then, as luck would have it, I found someone. I wont say their name, (which is a total first, I know) because they may or may not read this blog. My friend was ecstatic that I had tickets and agreed to come with me. They were actually in the middle of moving down from Phoenix, back to Tucson and since they were helping me out, I offered to help them move back in. They called me, but since I had my phone on vibrate, I didn’t realize it until 11:30 at night, when I very busy watching an old I Love Lucy rerun. I called them immediately as the end credits began to scroll over the iconic black and white heart, but this time, they didn’t answer. So, I went to sleep.
The next day, the day of the concert, I must've called my friend at least 10 times and text them, just as many times, all to no avail. They weren't answering, and as the minutes ticked closer and closer to the start of the concert, I was getting more and more nervous each time their voicemail came on. Two hours...One hour...Half an hour...fifteen minutes...five minutes...one minute...thirty seconds...fifteen seconds...one second...half a second...quarter of a second... Nothing. No call, no text, no nothing. I missed the concert. I should've just went, like my blog friend Carrisa suggested, but what fun is a concert if you have no one to share it with? On the other hand, what good is it sharing a concert with someone who doesn’t even consider your feelings and still hasnt called to this very day?
I think it's worse being stood up by a friend, rather than a blind date, because with a blind date, you’re stood up by someone who doesn’t even know you, rather than someone who does. Wait…I guess that’s a bad example, because being stood up by someone who doesn’t even give you a chance…yeah, never mind. The point is, being stood up is bad, and the thing that I don’t get is, why I was stood up? Am I a bad person?
Tuesday night, I went to the theatre with my boss Alice and her husband Azten and my friends Madelaine and Mick, and saw the most hysterical and absolutely entertaining Broadway show of my life: Avenue Q! Having grown up on an education taught by puppets and furry little monsters, the play totally spoke to me. As a kid, I always knew that the characters on Sesame Street had a hidden agenda, or a double life that PBS just never showed, and after seeing Avenue Q, I was so right on the money. It was absolutely one of the best shows, I have ever seen. And my friend Mick couldn’t agree more. In fact, he kept thanking me over and over again for inviting him to the show and cast party. What was a regular Broadway show night for me, was a party of the year for him. He couldn’t get over the fact that he was mingling with road tour actors and it actually made me feel good that somebody really appreciated me.
The same thing happened the following Sunday, when Alice and I attended a charity event. Every year, local Tucson business gather to design elaborate table settings (I have pictures, this time) that represent their company and allow fellow Tucsonites to get to know small businesses in their community, all to help children fight disease. Or plant trees. Or clean the seas. I don’t remember. But what I do remember is how thankful Alice and Azten were for my services. They couldn’t imagine pulling off the table setting without my help. They just kept thanking me and they even offered me one of their car’s because I had had car trouble earlier that morning. I mean, they were that thankful. Which I don’t understand…if there are some friends who value me very much, why are there some that don’t even value your feelings? And for that matter, why are they the ones you cant stop thinking about?
It was Friday afternoon, and I was getting ready to go to the biggest concert in Arizona: Phooson. A combination of the cities Phoenix and Tucson, Phooson was an idea started by local morning show DJ's John Jay and Rich, that became a music palooza with Enrique Iglesias, Ne-Yo, Fabolous, Jonas Brothers, Paula Deanda and Kat Deluna and a whole bunch of other singers, including 2007 American Idol winner Jordan Sparks. I had planned to go with my friend Maria, but she unfortunately had to cancel, because she thought the concert was on Saturday and switched shifts with a co-worker who was of town. But lucky for me, I did have someone to go with.
Earlier that week, after I found out Maria wouldn’t be attending the concert, I called everyone in Blackberry phonebook, but no one was available. Partially, because it was last minute and partially because the concert was on a Friday afternoon. But then, as luck would have it, I found someone. I wont say their name, (which is a total first, I know) because they may or may not read this blog. My friend was ecstatic that I had tickets and agreed to come with me. They were actually in the middle of moving down from Phoenix, back to Tucson and since they were helping me out, I offered to help them move back in. They called me, but since I had my phone on vibrate, I didn’t realize it until 11:30 at night, when I very busy watching an old I Love Lucy rerun. I called them immediately as the end credits began to scroll over the iconic black and white heart, but this time, they didn’t answer. So, I went to sleep.
The next day, the day of the concert, I must've called my friend at least 10 times and text them, just as many times, all to no avail. They weren't answering, and as the minutes ticked closer and closer to the start of the concert, I was getting more and more nervous each time their voicemail came on. Two hours...One hour...Half an hour...fifteen minutes...five minutes...one minute...thirty seconds...fifteen seconds...one second...half a second...quarter of a second... Nothing. No call, no text, no nothing. I missed the concert. I should've just went, like my blog friend Carrisa suggested, but what fun is a concert if you have no one to share it with? On the other hand, what good is it sharing a concert with someone who doesn’t even consider your feelings and still hasnt called to this very day?
I think it's worse being stood up by a friend, rather than a blind date, because with a blind date, you’re stood up by someone who doesn’t even know you, rather than someone who does. Wait…I guess that’s a bad example, because being stood up by someone who doesn’t even give you a chance…yeah, never mind. The point is, being stood up is bad, and the thing that I don’t get is, why I was stood up? Am I a bad person?
Tuesday night, I went to the theatre with my boss Alice and her husband Azten and my friends Madelaine and Mick, and saw the most hysterical and absolutely entertaining Broadway show of my life: Avenue Q! Having grown up on an education taught by puppets and furry little monsters, the play totally spoke to me. As a kid, I always knew that the characters on Sesame Street had a hidden agenda, or a double life that PBS just never showed, and after seeing Avenue Q, I was so right on the money. It was absolutely one of the best shows, I have ever seen. And my friend Mick couldn’t agree more. In fact, he kept thanking me over and over again for inviting him to the show and cast party. What was a regular Broadway show night for me, was a party of the year for him. He couldn’t get over the fact that he was mingling with road tour actors and it actually made me feel good that somebody really appreciated me.
The same thing happened the following Sunday, when Alice and I attended a charity event. Every year, local Tucson business gather to design elaborate table settings (I have pictures, this time) that represent their company and allow fellow Tucsonites to get to know small businesses in their community, all to help children fight disease. Or plant trees. Or clean the seas. I don’t remember. But what I do remember is how thankful Alice and Azten were for my services. They couldn’t imagine pulling off the table setting without my help. They just kept thanking me and they even offered me one of their car’s because I had had car trouble earlier that morning. I mean, they were that thankful. Which I don’t understand…if there are some friends who value me very much, why are there some that don’t even value your feelings? And for that matter, why are they the ones you cant stop thinking about?
