Always on My Side

I was jogging the other day listening to Sheryl Crow and Sting sing “Always on your Side”,(listening to it now as a matter of fact.I like to have a soundtrack to my writing..) and I started to think about the people in my life who have always been “On my side”. There have been many people come and go, friends I have had for short periods who for some reason or another have drifted away or didn’t stay in touch for , and it’s been okay. Things happen, people change, priorities change, thus is life. While on this thought of friendship I wondered out of all of these people who have aided me in this life, who then would usher me out?. Morbid I know, but I’m also sure funeral fantasies are quite normal, although nobody likes to admit it.. As if thinking about it, means you have a secret death wish. I assure you I don’t. I love my life, in fact for the first time I am truly happy .
So after much consideration my “Casket Crew” has been assembled, there were many who made the short list, I didn’t want to add relatives because just like being a God Parent, I don’t feel they should be included (Rule in my head #11) but these six stand out and I guess will stand up when it’s time to send me to my maker.


My Cousin Kirk Rowe- Kirk and I spent our childhood’s together trying to make money, scheming , wheeling and dealing making profits by lemon-aide stands, selling popcorn (.25 a handful) , we swam we rode our bikes and he has always quietly been by my side. We don’t talk a lot any more but I know he is always there for me.

Josie (Wilson) Green- Josie and I were two peas in a pod, we were best friends until high school and then we slowly drifted apart. I can’t remember my younger days without Josie in it, I don’t think I want to. We laughed, sang and were inseparable. We had the kind of friendship Judy Blume would write about.

Pam Lindsay- My “Bosom Friend” as Ann of Green Gables would say. Pam and I became fast friends in high school, went to University together, moved and lived together in British Columbia and spent countless days laughing our heads and hearts out. She is one of the only people in my life who “gets me”, she can do no wrong, I have an unconditional love for Pam and I will always have her back.


Niki Peter- I lived and worked with Niki for 4 years. Another soul who has enriched my life with devotion and laughter. We traveled the country side in search of abandoned houses, graveyards, old roads, Hoo Doo’s, Giant Tigers, and places with good food. We have been there for each other through momentous life changing events, she stood up with me at my wedding and although we live 3 hours away from each other now continues to stand beside me today.


Jessica Tasker_ My brother worked with Jessica and once said that she was the person he learned how to argue with, I thought it strange but understood that there was not a lot of arguing in our house growing up. It wasn’t until I lived with Jessica that I too can attribute my arguing skills to Ms. Tasker as well. This is a good thing. I felt comfortable with Jessica to tell her what I thought and she felt the same way. Knowing that there was nothing personal in what we were fighting about. Jessica and I had fun and we learned a lot about ourselves together. We spent many a night playing checkers, getting New Orleans Pizza, or drinking wine and talking about our lives.


Liza Landman- I met Liza 4 years ago. The first time she came over I offered her a Martini, not knowing of course she was 17. She of course accepted and our friendship has since been based on the fact that if I do not maintain the friendship she will turn me in for contributing to the delinquency of a minor . Liza is one of the funniest people I know and I truly feel like she is my second sister. We just clicked. I can tell her anything and not be embarrassed , that’s the measure of a great friend.


Just as I wrote my last word Kelly walked in and said “Didn’t you say you wanted to be cremated?”…”Yeah, I did say that didn’t I”…Who knows by the time my little heart beats for the last time there may be other methods of leaving this world, perhaps we will be carried out on missals to space, folded into ceramic pots for ecological purposes or laser beamed into dust…It was just a thought I had while jogging down Sunset Drive .