Kibitz ‘n Bits

posted by Brandy on Jun 6

Once again (begging for forgiveness) it has been way too long since I last posted.  I am so sorry.  I must admit that for the past couple of months I had lost my inspiration.  I had lost my passion to write and more importantly, my zest for humor. 

It has been a strange and tumultuous time for me.  I had lost a very dear friend of mine to a sudden and tragic illness, changed jobs, dealt with some serious health issues with my 7 y/o son, and throughout all of this, I also came to the realization that people who I believed were my friends, and I mean I really, truly, deeply essentially believed they were my FRIENDS for many years – - - actually turned out to be what I refer to as a facade.  And I’m not talking about just one individual but rather two or three.  Sad.  Very, very sad.   <sniff, sniff> 

But I don’t want to dwell on this.  So, let it be said…  Friends come and go.  This I have learned and I am still finding this to be true as I wander through each passing day. 

It is an age old question:  What is a friend? 

Is it someone who sticks by you through thick and thin?  Someone whom you have known for years, whom you have a lot in common with, share similar interests with?  Someone who likes you only because your kids happen to be great buddies?  Or is it someone who genuinely likes you for who you are?  Someone who likes YOU because of your imperfections, your flawed anatomy and, at best, your blemished personality that shines on most days but even on that rare occasion when you don’t feel like being the most “friendliest” person in the room, they understand that you are not perfect and they still like you…  Is that a friend? 

I ask this only because the other day, I learned that I may be inadvertently alienating myself from some of “my friends“ simply because of a bumper sticker that I recently slapped on my car.   From what I understand, my bumper sticker is so offensive that a few of “my friends” are now pondering whether or not they should disassociate themselves from me.  

My bumper sticker reads, “If you’re going to ride my ass, then at least PULL MY HAIR!”

Offensive to some…YES.  Funny…..HELL YES.  I think so! 

That is why I slapped it on my damn car.  And I wouldn’t have done so if it weren’t for all of the other parents who kept riding my ass during morning drop-offs in the car-pool lane at my kids’ school! 

But if that is criteria for “friendship” then I guess the bar has been raised.  I had no idea. 

A few years back, I watched as my sister lost her partner of 15 years tragically and unexpectedly due to a pulmonary embolism.  I then witnessed, firsthand, the wonder and amazement of true friendship.  My sister had friends who stuck by her and supported her through her darkest moments and then, without hesitation, they remained by her side, with continual encouragement and support and then shared in her joy as she later found a new partner.  What is her secret?   I may never know.  Hell, maybe it’s her damn bumper sticker…..she has a gay pride flag!

Anyway, I still can’t answer the age old question as it is something that I may forever ponder.  But for now, the sticker isn’t coming off as my husband now jokes that it is our “Friend Filter“.  

I laugh and wonder who else I am offending.  People I don’t even know.   In fact, just the other day, some woman in a large black Hummer sped up next to me, gave me the finger, stepped on the gas and then abruptly CUT ME OFF!   BITCH!!!! 

Have no idea why but I am starting to think that it could be a result of the new tire cover that I just bought.  I drive a Jeep Unlimited Rubicon and this is a picture of the back.  Hmmmm……?