One of my good friends was killed in a car accident in 2006. She was only 18, and I was 20. She was a senior in high school. I was a sophomore in college. It was a cold Sunday in April. Just a few hours before the accident I had spoken to her about coming to visit me at school in Pittsburgh. We discussed our schedules and caught up and talked about her school plans. She wanted to go to John Jay to study criminal justice. She was so excited about it. I told her I couldn't understand why she wouldn't want to study communications like me. Lol. She was such a compelling character...
Though it's been nearly 5 years since her death, I can't recall one day when I haven't thought about her. Little things in my day to day tend to remind me of her; Nike sneakers, that song by Donnell Jones, my Yankee baseball cap, greasy pizza, the EZ pass from my old car, Sunoco gas stations, a college basketball game on TV... I will never forget about my dear friend's ability to make everyone feel like they were special to her. Something that was unique to only her relationship with me was our celebration of made up holidays.
The thing is, we both LOVED receiving gifts. I mean, who doesn't? So, we'd declare random days throughout the year holidays just so we could exchange a gift, or a card, or even just a phone call. Every year, on December 6th, we'd celebrate "Chrismakwannukah." Even when I moved away for school, she'd call on Chrismakwannukah just to say happy day. We'd talk for hours and catch up... and laugh and laugh and laugh.
I say all of that to say -- more than her birthday or the day of the accident -- I miss her the most on Chrismakwannukah. It's our day; a day that is unique to only she and I. So, HAPPY CHRISMAKWANNUKAH in heaven, my friend. I know you're somewhere making someone laugh, even as I write this. I'm spreading lots of love and laughs today in honor of you... :-)
And Happy Chrismakwannukah to you, my readers, my loves...
