I was at Marshalls looking for some long sleeve shirts. I was thinking, inside this very Marshalls I use to know someone who works here. This old friend has not cross my mind in ages. And honestly, I think the last time I saw the guy was a few years after high school. It got me thinking....Ha
s it really been a quarter century already since we last graduated....

Then a rush of shame, guilt came over me. This was a guy who really look out for me like a brother. He tried to hook me up to work there I remember. He invited me along to several hangouts. He even found me a prom date.
The thing was, I just hit my rebellious years towards the end of high school. I wasn't really thinking about taking college seriously, graduating with a degree and landing a solid career, buy a house, find a life partner, start a family. Honestly, I was thinking...I uhh wasn't thinking...I was pretty closed off actually. I wanted to see what my options were. Say the least, I was pretty much a loser..hahaha Couldn't hold to a dang job for more than a month. Couldn't sit in a classroom for more than 30 minutes...LOL Some people must think, I'm that "Kid rock" guy..Who just works, parties, and bring a different girl home every night....Far from that...remembe
r, I was closed off..I kept to myself. I felt something off about the world...I couldn't conform..hahah
a But because I was not necessarily a productive citizen, I felt portraying that "bad boy" image would be more fitting and so it kind of stuck...LOL I never manipulated any girl just because. Hell, a few even took their tops off in front of me. And nobody is going to believe me, but I button their shirt back, tell them to "save it for their husband"...hahhaa
One memory I have with this old friend was one time, he called me early morning. Said he and the crew, at the time his group of friends consisted mostly girls, and just one other dude, plus me (sometimes) made three of us dudes and 5 or 6 other girls. We were the "good" kids. Stay outta trouble, didn't make friends with anyone who wore baggy pants or have bleached hair...haha
Anyway, they were planning a surprise go away party for this one girl in the group. She was going down So Cal for college. So He was getting all the balloons, cake, food, ribbons and what not. He asked me to tag along, I oblige. We made several stops. Each time, he would say, you can just stay inside the car, it'll be quick, most everything I "will call" already..Yeah "will call" isn't used as much today anymore, but its pretty much pre-ordered. The internet wasn't that advance yet back then...LOL....
.So I stayed. Thinking, he just needed a body guard maybe of some sort..He did have new car at the time, so I thought nothing much....(those late 90's civics MSRP were 20k at the time and a popular theft car) hahah
We finally get to the balloon shop. He said..."hey, can you "get" the balloons?"...I said "yeah, sure"...What I didn't know was what he really meant by "get"..was if I can pay for the balloons...LOL I got out, went into the store, said Im here to pick up some balloons...The
n the clerk rang up the balloons and I turn warm all over my face. I took out my gas money, 40 bucks, and handed it to the clerk....
I got inside the car, and the friend said, Thanks, I'll let Julie know you paid for the balloons.
I don't know, who was right or wrong at the time...In a way, I felt taken advantaged of. In Another way, I felt, he has every right to test my friendship- he's done a lot for me....So it was fair...I guess...
I don't know what happened after that, either they all decided to not include me anymore in their outings, or they really all got busy and move on with their lives....
regardless, I hope they are all doing well now....I doubt they are involve with the Hmong communities...
hahah They have no social media, I've already check...LOL
But going back to me just kind of doing my own thing...Do I regret for not forming stronger connections with that group of friends? No, I follow my heart, and although the thought that I might turn out better had I took them seriously, I don't regret....I had to be honest to myself and to them. We just didn't really vibe like that.
They took the simple steady road..Nothing wrong with that....But I wanted to see where the dark roads lead me to...Boy, did I see and experience a lot of shit...and there were times I do wonder had I made the wrong choice...LOL But it's what made me and mold me to be the Warrior I am today...LOL
If anything, the average human is equal. It's just how you want your blessings to come to you. Some people choose blessings first, then pain later...Some choose to suffer now and enjoy later...Some choose the simple, boring, but safe route.....and a few, have chosen the devil....LOL
So today, when I get people telling me, "why me, why do I have so much bad luck, I'm such a loser"....I'll just smile and said "it's just not your time to shine yet"...its like when your 6th grade teacher asked you You want the good news or bad news first......And the better option on paper was get the bad news first......hah
aha