BFF Birthday

I'm posting late today. I'm battling the flu. The twins got sick over the weekend and I trip to the Dr. on Monday confirmed that they were sick with the flu for the first time in their young lives. I don't usually get sick when the kids are sick, but the twins insisted on wiping their snot on me and kissing me all the time, sweet, but unsanitary. In addition, they love drinking or eating whatever I'm drinking or eating. So, yesterday afternoon I got stuffy, sniffy, achy head, fever, couldn't get any rest...You get the drift. I took a couple of TheraFlu's and went to bed. I woke up still sniffly but much better than yesterday. In addition to feeling bad, one of the twins threw up on my computer. It totally went out yesterday but God resurrected it because He knew I had to send a special shot out to my BFF who's turning 34 today.

I met my BFF in 11th Grade. I was the new kid in the class. I was the angry, black woman at the all white school. Dannette was the first person I met when I got to school late the first day, eyes rolled up in my head. She was "Lauryn Hill" cool. You know, like fly, but talked to you like you were on her level. There was no "let me check you out, see if you can hang with me." It was like she just took me as I was from the beginning. That was new, because you know, in school you've got to prove yourself, be part of the in-crowd; or smart; or theatre; or athelete. At this new school, people were just themselves. There was only 30 people in the whole class so I guess there wasn't enough room for cliques. Honestly, my time there could have been all bad, that first meeting, and the first acceptance made all the difference to me. Not just Dannette, but her entire family embraced me. Her mother became like a second mother to me nursing me through so much hurt, pain and confusion during my teenage years. I was highly self-destructive, but somehow that was minimized when I was at Dannette's house. I was able to think of peaceful things and plan for the future. I went to Vassar in NY and she went to Duke in NC but the distance didn't stop our closeness. We have always visited one another as often as we can.

Over the years, we were Bonnie & Clyde; Einstein & Edison; Alice Walker and Toni Morrison; Martin & Malcolm; Ben Carson & Charles Drew; Billie Holiday & Chaka Khan; Mary J. & Keishya Cole; Tupac & Biggie; JFK & Roosevelt; Cow & Chicken; Beavis & Butthead. We have honestly been through the best of times and the worst of times. Dannette has been such a constant in my life. When others have come and gone, her love, and ability to back up love with action, has been the same no matter if we were on the first of fourth and fifth kid. She has been through pre-natal, post-natal, Neonatal, and everything in-between. There aren't enough words for what her friendship has meant to me throughout all these years. It's been SEVENTEEN YEARS and what a ride it's been. All I can say is that I look forward to being able to say it's been 70 years. I look forward to helping you raise your kids, as you have helped me with mine. I look forward to being in your wedding, helping you figure out how to nurse, picking out wedding dresses for our kids, and deciding which child we are going to live with in our old age.

Life has been a challenge, but it's also been greatly rewarding. The best is yet to come. As you embark on your trip, make the most of this year. 2008 will be a year to remember. I love you Boodie. (PS. we need Dannette or Tanikka!!!! LOL)