Make Up
I have this friend
I’ve written about her before
We have a friendship that’s lasted years
Through many different iterations
I remember when we met
It was in December
And I was on set
In Ashville, North Carolina
I remember it well
Because it was unseasonably warm
Our first meeting was on the phone
So I walked outside the stage and took the call
Our chat was initially about
The impending end of the world
As Tony had left
And a universal implosion was at hand
Of course the world survived
And so did she
But it was the first of many
Behind the wall conversations
We’ve shared over the years
Now understand
My friend is extremely attractive
Like stop traffic pretty
Literally – I’ve seen it
And truth be told
I would have to admit
It’s what first made me notice her
Like many others
But what she gave me
Is what’s here now
The words, the thoughts, the inspiration
And the freedom to write it all down
Circumstances have tossed us together recently
A mash up of visits and conversations
That include not just her -but her family
Her Mom and Dad
And her uncles Rick and Mark
We’ve shared a lot this go around
Me a little more than her
As she reminded me
Her wall is always up a little
But even under the most intense pressure
She remained incredibly beautiful
A physical presence
That was really amazing
So we were having lunch
Celebrating my birthday
Which was a real treat for me
The best present you can get
And we were chatting it up
About this and that
And how she was getting back to her normal self
“Except for make up”
I stopped and looked at her
No make up
I hadn’t noticed
Not that she needed any
But it was more than that
It was a moment for me
To realize I wasn’t looking at her
The really pretty face in front of me
I was seeing her
The person inside
The one behind the wall
The one who always gives more than she receives
We had just spoken about people from the past
Who when reconnecting
Never remembered things from long ago
But only responded to the beauty in front of them
Now I didn’t see any of it
She was just my friend
Someone who counted on me
And one I count on too
The moment passed
And we carried on -
We had cake and a candle
It was a grand time
But no make up stayed with me
Because when you look inside someone
And see them and who they really are
That’s special – real special
And there are very few that I trust
To show what’s behind my wall
But she’s one
To trust and to learn from
So I hope as time rolls along
That special thing lasts
Because it doesn’t come along very often
And it surely is awesome