We had been friends for many years and had always being supportive of all the good, bad and ugly relationships that we had both taken part in. But now he had brushed me off and was treating singleness like the plague. I was not one for the single pity parade that he was soliciting to me. The final blow came after just one martini. He made up an excuse and bolted for home to his new lover. With the parting comment “that he could not imagine being single ever again? Particularly on a Saturday night? Ouch! I was stunned by the insincerity as I scraped my jaw off the floor. How soon they forget, it had only been a short time ago that Rick had been “the single Saturday night guy.” With my jaw off the floor and my composure restored I vowed to my other friends (single and married) that Saturday nights are all about fun! This is how we ended up laughing till 3am, to bad for Rick, when you snooze you loose! Later that evening my girlfriend nailed it; she commented that Rick will never be happy! His relationship will make him happy short term and then he will long for the single life again. He would soon complain about restriction and responsibity. Single hood would give him freedom. Rick would be single in a year and then after six months he would be stating that he can not find the women of his dreams? Yadda yadda yadda! We all laughed, we had all heard it before. The grass is always greener.
As I sipped my Ice-wine martini I asked myself how long do you put up with a friend who is self involved and is never going to be happy. That was when I stared thinking about all the times he had listen to me bitch about men, all the instances when I called and he had taken care of me, and most important the times that we had laughed and cried.
I guess I was just disappointed that he had run home to the new chick but I also knew that he would be back, the question was “Would I still be around to be friends?”
Conclusion:
The Ice-wine martini is sensual. It has sweetness like that of a life long friendship. The vodka is strong and can sneak up and kick you in the head, just like the selfishness of a self absorbed friend. The orange rind gives this martini just a hint of bitterness, similar to the tension that builds between friends when they disappoint each other. Friends have their own path in life and we all make horrendous mistakes. Judgment is useless because it only causes frustration. As I finished my martini and looked into the glass, the crystal ball effect had worn off and the message was very clear. You can never judge your true friends because you will always love them more than they will frustrate you. With your life long friends you can only listen attentively, support unconditionally and understand faithfully. Because when you go skidding into a grave martini in hand, they will be the ones cheering you on, they will also be the ones mixing you a fresh martini on the other side.
Copyrights:
2005 by Marjory Cheales
