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September 25, 2005
The Swan
Like the great Maya Angelou wrote about true friendship:
"A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
A true friend is someone who listens to your urgent needs, and takes you to your appointment for plastic surgery"
or something like that. Or maybe someone else said that.
Anyway, I am a true friend. I received a call from a friend last week (who I shall not identify but will refer to as 'The Swan') asking if I was available to drive them to their appointment on Friday.
Me: "I don't have car."
The Swan: "I've rented a Zip Car."
Me: "Will you be getting painkillers?"
The Swan: "Yes."
Me: "Do you need me to pick up your prescriptions as well?"
The Swan: "Yes."
Me: "Sure, I'm available."
I had no problem taking my friend to the appointment. What I was a wee bit concerned about was driving to Rockville, Maryland. Since I rarely drive anymore I'm just not as used to it. I used to drive on the beltway all the time a few years ago. It was easy cuz I was used to it. I can still easily drive in DC or out to Rehoboth. No problem. Driving out to Rockville is a different story. I don't know where the hell I am going and there are a number of highways and SUV's to get to where we were going. I also have a really bad sense of direction. Plus, I'm slightly retarded.
The Swan drove us there. Since the procedure was going to take about 4 hours I went home for awhile. Somehow, I did get back to DC. It took about 2 hours but I did return. I went to get the prescriptions filled (which took another 2 hours) and then drove back to pick up the Swan. Of course, I had to Mapquest the directions back to Rockville. Mapquest took me on a completely different route than the one we had taken there. I went to places I have never seen before in my 12 years of living in this area. I also nearly ran over a small group of children.
The Swan calls me on my cell phone, "Where are yooooou? I'm ready to come hooooome." I'm already a nervous nellie driving in traffic, now I've gotta haul ass. I told the Swan to take another Percocet and I will be there shortly. The Mapquest directions were almost correct except for the last part. I ended up in the parking lot of a Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Um, this isn't right. Fuck. Another phone call, "Where are yooooou? I wanna go hooooome. It huuuuurts." I ask to speak to the nurse. The nurse gets on the phone. "Can you please kindly inject my friend with some morphine? Thanks. Bye." I saw a Wendy's up the street so I pulled up to the drive-thru to ask for directions. Luckily, the clinic was right around the corner. Whew.
I picked up the Swan who now resembles the Mummy. The Swan gets in the back seat. I said, "Um, I know you are kinda sore and want to lie down but I kinda need you to help guide me back to DC." "Ooooookaaaaay," the Swan says in a drugged-out haze. I begin to follow their directions.
As I'm driving up 270 looking for signs to a certain exit, some car pulls up alongside me. The driver is waving frantically and smiling at me. I quickly look over and then quickly look back to where I am going so I don't veer off and hit that large Hummer. I glance over once again. The man starts TALKING to me. Yeah, um, we're driving about 75 miles per hour surrounded by mothers driving SUV's, this prolly isn't a good time to have a li'l conversation. Plus, I'm transporting the Mummy as you can see. Kindly, piss off. I keep my eyes on the road, knowing I probably pissed off some acquaintance of mine as their car speeds up and they take off.
We finally arrive back at the Swan's place. Everything is cool. I leave. A true friend's work is now done. Maya would be proud.
Posted by durban bud at September 25, 2005 03:57 PM
Comments
A true friend is one who shares their percoset ;-) LOL
Posted by: TOS at September 26, 2005 02:26 PM
ummmmmmm. I don't miss your driving.
That's all I gotta say..
Posted by: pam at September 26, 2005 06:54 PM