#iloveyoufriend

[istariray23hugotlines]

Anu ba ang MAY mo?

[wordssplatteredoncement]

Save the Snails

Have you ever met someone who makes you strive to be a better person? An ally in life who has your back through the toughest of times, even when the world seems to have forgotten your existence? Someone who just “gets you” in every sense of the word? I’m going to do my best not to fumble on these next several sentiments, as I do have a person in my life who is all of those things, and so much fucking more. I hope you’ll indulge me for the next few paragraphs as I spill my heart out about my best friend, Mallory Gruber Lane. 

It all started so randomly. I was sitting at my drab desk, in the boring office, at the job I loathed. As I hung up the phone from ordering my (apparently) all too bland of a sandwich, an IM popped up on my screen from someone I’d never shared more than head nod in passing from. 

Mallory Gruber: Wow! Don’t get too adventurous with your sandwich over there.

(Embarrassed) Me: You heard that, eh? It’s not bland, I’m a purest (I said, defending my turkey and cheddar on dutch crunch.. plain and dry).

Future Best Friendo: You know what you like. I can respect that. But you’re also lying to yourself. (laughter.. literally.. she was a few desks down from me and I could hear her laughing at my pathetic, joyless, overpriced joke of a sandwich from where I sat)

Over the next couple of days, the IM conversations continued, ranging from music and movies, to how much we loathed the very place we sat. The chats didn’t get too deep during those days, but they were always enjoyable and I found myself enamored by her wit. So quick to the joke, and razor sharp in her delivery. Having had someone just back out of a comedy show on me, I mustered up the courage and asked her out to see Louis C.K. (side note: this is pre-knowing Louis was whipping his dick out and wagging it at every female he could.. I’m not a creeper, but I do find that motherfucker funny). 

.. agonizingly long time between responses... 

Mallory Gruber: Oh, I can’t. I’ve got plans this weekend. (what I heard.. “you’re gross.. go away”.. as I’ve got issues with self esteem, like most of us do if we’re honest for a second)

The conversations ceased for a few days and I figured I scared her away as even an acquaintance, but as luck would have it, we were moved to desks right next each other. She asked me to meet up with some of her work friends for drinks. It was through Mallory I met some of the few people I genuinely enjoy the company of in that office. We became a clique that I coined “The Friends That End In Y” (Mallory, Lucy, Amy, Sky), complete with our own catchphrase “Friends that end in Y, drink on days that end in Y. Don’t ask why.” It was the first time I’d felt like anyone cared about me in a number of years.

Life was pretty great. I hated my job, but I had friends who I related to again. The words “Sky and Mallory” became synonymous in that office. Literally. I think everyone thought my name was “Sky and Mallory” and was often asked where Mallory was if I was seen without her. We worked together, joked together, got in far too much trouble together, ate together, and took breaks together whenever possible. It was through these breaks that I witnessed something I found odd. I witnessed my best friend picking up snails from the sidewalk and tossing them to the grass. This happened for several days in a row before I asked her why. Her response, “because people are fucking shit and they crush these poor things without a second thought”. I soon found myself joining in our snail-saving breaks. To this day, if I see a snail on the sidewalk, I toss it on the grass. The snail has become our avatar of friendship, and I plan to get one tattooed on me one day, as a symbol of our bond. 

The years moved on. We have shared many a joke, bottle, and embrace. She’s the one person I feel completely at ease with, that isn’t my family.. though in reality, she’s family. She’s my friend, sister, and spiritual adviser (as much as an atheist can have, at least) all rolled up into one person. Though smaller in stature, I look up to Mallory. She’ll tell me exactly what I need to hear, even when I don’t want to hear it. She picks me up when life has me down, and has no problem listening to my rants about the things I hate, nor the incessant ramblings about the things I love. We’ve endured many of life’s triumphs and downfalls together. There are things I know about her that I will never tell another soul and vice versa. I don’t have faith in much, but I believe in Mallory. 

Flash forward to last year. We’re chilling on her patio, enjoying the beautiful view of the sunset from her backyard when I hear this... Mallory: So we picked a date (referring to her and her soon-to-be husband’s wedding). 

Me: Dude! That’s awesome!! When!? (pulling out my phone to put it in my calendar)

Mallory: October, 6th of this year (2018).. but we have something to ask you.. and you can say no. Please don’t feel like you have to..

Me: Sure. What’s up?

Mallory: We would love it if you would officiate our wedding. Whatever costs involved we’ll...

(interrupting Mallory) Me: I’m in! 

Mallory: .. but you don’t have to..

Me: There’s no way I’m not doing this. I’d love to.

..... flash forward to October 6th, 2018....

I’m pacing around my hotel room like a man possessed.. or at least one who has to shit, except the only restroom around is occupied by a man who ate three Philly cheesesteaks, and looks to be in no hurry to leave. I’m glancing at my script for the 3,072nd time that day. I try to memorize it, just as I have for the last several months since it was written, but to no avail. “I’m going to fuck this up for her”, I thought to myself. In a moment of clarity, I thought about how Mal would handle the situation. The wedding was at Lake Tahoe and my room was right across from the gorgeous slice of nature. I ventured out to the lake for a breath of fresh air and to skip some stones.. as I thought this is how Mallory would handle the stress in my position. As I went to pick up a stone, I seen a snail. I picked it up and started to cry. It was a moment of pure clarity. I gently placed the snail in the tall grass nearby and went back to my room.��

The moment of her entrance had arrived. Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” played as I seen my friend as beautiful as I ever had, arm-in-arm with her personal hero, her father. The sun beamed through an otherwise overcast day just before the ceremony, but her smile and elegance far out-powered our solar earth-furnace. Jitters turned to joy (okay, admittedly the jitters remained throughout, but lessened) as I watched my best friend turn the page to one of life’s grandest chapters... not only did I watch but technically legalized with the words, “it is with absolute honor, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jeff, kiss your beautiful wife.” 

I said all of that, to say this. Find a friend who is willing to double over in laughter with you at the stupidest things, to share in your hatred of something trivial, to cry over the defeats life dishes your way, and to say I love you to in a way that is completely devoid of irony. Find a friend who shows you why life is worth living. Save the snails. 

[mblovestolaugh]

Maybe she’s blowing you off. Maybe she’s a bad friend. Maybe she is keeping you in her back pocket for a rainy day. It’s entirely possible. Or maybe she’s busy. Maybe her plate is completely full. Maybe she’s coping the best way she knows how. Maybe she’s stressed. Maybe she’s maxed out. Maybe stuff isn’t going her way, and she’s saving her energy. Maybe she is overwhelmed with kids, family, work, and bills. Maybe she’s trying her best, but her best isn’t much right now. Maybe anxiety is getting in the way and rearing its ugly head, as it so often does. Maybe it has nothing to do with you at all. Maybe it’s about her. There are a million reasons she might be falling short. But, then again, maybe it’s something else. Don’t forget to give the benefit of the doubt. Don’t forget to cut her some slack. Don’t forget to forgive. Don’t forget sometimes friendship means loving each other through the tough seasons, and the rainy weather, and all the ups and downs. May we hold each other in the good times and in the rough times even if that means giving space... I see you sister. Where there has been distance- know I love you, I am sorry, and I too understand. #iloveyoufriend #iseeyou #womensupportingwomen https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5GaBEsWXwU3huUrABvYlLx3UFVFt6wckFOoc0/?igshid=1w6a6grf0md1t

[so-well-defined]

Maybe she’s blowing you off. Maybe she’s a bad friend. Maybe she is keeping you in her back pocket for a rainy day. It’s entirely possible. Or maybe she’s busy. Maybe her plate is completely full. Maybe she’s coping the best way she knows how. Maybe she’s stressed. Maybe she’s maxed out. Maybe stuff isn’t going her way, and she’s saving her energy. Maybe she really did miss your text. Maybe she is overwhelmed with kids, family, and bills. Maybe she’s trying her best, but her best isn’t much right now. Maybe anxiety is getting in the way and rearing its ugly head, as it so often does. Maybe it has nothing to do with you at all. Maybe it’s about her. There are a million reasons she might be falling short. Maybe it really is that things have run their course. It’s a sad part of life, but it is, nonetheless, a part of life. Only you can make that call. But, then again, maybe it’s something else. Don’t forget to give the benefit of the doubt. Don’t forget to cut her some slack. Don’t forget to forgive. Don’t forget sometimes friendship means loving each other through the tough seasons, and the rainy weather, and all the ups and downs. May we hold each other in the good times and in the rough times even if that means giving space... I see you sister. To those I have been too busy for - I love you, I’m sorry. To those who have been distant from me - I love you, I understand. ~ Anonymous Illustration: @carlallanosillustrations ❤️🧡💛🤍🤎🖤 #iloveyoufriend #iseeyou #womensupportingwomen #resellercommunity #friendship #friends #sisters #siostras #iloveyou #takecareofyourself #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth (at Cinco Ranch, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/COeGFC3Ndwj/?igshid=ume9yguu61d2

[chocolate66]

Maybe she’s blowing you off. Maybe she’s a bad friend. Maybe she is keeping you in her back pocket for a rainy day. It’s entirely possible. Or maybe she’s busy. Maybe her plate is completely full. Maybe she’s coping the best way she knows how. Maybe she’s stressed. Maybe she’s maxed out. Maybe stuff isn’t going her way, and she’s saving her energy. Maybe she really did miss your text. Maybe she is overwhelmed with kids, family, and bills. Maybe she’s trying her best, but her best isn’t much right now. Maybe anxiety is getting in the way and rearing its ugly head, as it so often does. Maybe it has nothing to do with you at all. Maybe it’s about her. There are a million reasons she might be falling short. Maybe it really is that things have run their course. It’s a sad part of life, but it is, nonetheless, a part of life. Only you can make that call. But, then again, maybe it’s something else. Don’t forget to give the benefit of the doubt. Don’t forget to cut her some slack. Don’t forget to forgive. Don’t forget sometimes friendship means loving each other through the tough seasons, and the rainy weather, and all the ups and downs. May we hold each other in the good times and in the rough times even if that means giving space... I see you sister. To those I have been too busy for - I love you, I’m sorry. To those who have been distant from me - I love you, I understand. ~ Anonymous Illustration: Carla Llanos Illustrations #iloveyoufriend #iseeyou #womensupportingwomen (at DeMotte, Indiana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CONSxdOLgSs/?igshid=1bx3ckye4pulc

[thedullwhitecrayon]

Yes I knowww we haven't talked in a while but I still lovvvee and supporttt youuuuu

[soydependienta]

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A post shared by Ana (@just_a_bit_of_style)

Hoy he tenido que ver a dos amigas que llenan cajas de cosas para marcharse . Las cosas se meten en cajas y al final ni las utilizamos . Pero de repente , te quedas triste , te da cuenta de lo que se va son las personas con las que tienen un montón de vivencias guardas en tu memoria para siempre . Y sin embargo , te parte el corazón 💔 Buena suerte a ambas en vuestro nuevo proyecto de vida . Yo seguiré estando , nos separe la distancia que nos separe . ❤️ @moniliu @a.seva_gomez #lovefriend #myfriend #iloveyoufriend #iloveyouconb #myfriends #nadanossepara #ladistancianosepara https://www.instagram.com/p/CGZ3mZVK1Vx/?igshid=1qs0a8bo02h6y

[maurochiani]

#iloveyoufriend (en Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3AfS_DHuaw/?igshid=1pp0ujtljrv4s

[candiieeh]

Dont ever lose faith even when you feel like everything is gone. Im here for everyone even if we dont talk that often. #neverlosefaith #cantbelieveit #staystrong #happiness #peacebewithus #iloveyoufriend #beautifulsoul https://www.instagram.com/p/BymUmCyFzeVelp4dP-KJ_sNT6aRjeNXObumi3U0/?igshid=cm31g82yjgbe

[godswrist]

What chu say bout Eartha? Issue your comments and concerns or consider your chivalry complacent. • #ilikewords #earthakitt #nocompromise #winwin #winwinwinwin #fuckeverythingelse #winwinwinwin #iscreenshoteverything #godswrist #youknowwhoyouare #iloveyoufriend #ironsharpens #isaymuch #andnevertell https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxani4uFMio/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=i3hcqy5o0uv2

[istariray23hugotlines]

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We started out as Friends and look at us now :) 

[josephinequilatan]

#iloveyoufriends❤️ https://www.instagram.com/p/CgOdwIygGiM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ramblingthoughtsofafreak]

This Christmas is hard. I don’t know how to deal with being more sad about not seeing my friends than my family. I guess my friends, at this point, are my family. I don’t know how I’m going to get through the next 2 and a half weeks without seeing them. I miss normal Christmas. I guess that’s what COVID does.

[zentavros]

a drawing I did for my friend’s birthday! I hope she likes it!

(she made a creature called a babble beast and I love him)

[elenaferrando]

Décadas haciendo el monguer juntas ❤️ #guateques #amiguis #iloveyoufriends https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOxNGHlKX3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=648nbngqz55

[dietmumrepeat]

Maybe she’s blowing you off. Maybe she’s a bad friend. Maybe she is keeping you in her back pocket for a rainy day. It’s entirely possible. Or maybe she’s busy. Maybe her plate is completely full. Maybe she’s coping the best way she knows how. Maybe she’s stressed. Maybe she’s maxed out. Maybe stuff isn’t going her way, and she’s saving her energy. Maybe she really did miss your text. Maybe she is overwhelmed with kids, family, and bills. Maybe she’s trying her best, but her best isn’t much right now. Maybe anxiety is getting in the way and rearing its ugly head, as it so often does. Maybe it has nothing to do with you at all. Maybe it’s about her. There are a million reasons she might be falling short. Maybe it really is that things have run their course. It’s a sad part of life, but it is, nonetheless, a part of life. Only you can make that call. But, then again, maybe it’s something else. Don’t forget to give the benefit of the doubt. Don’t forget to cut her some slack. Don’t forget to forgive. Don’t forget sometimes friendship means loving each other through the tough seasons, and the rainy weather, and all the ups and downs. May we hold each other in the good times and in the rough times even if that means giving space... I see you sister. To those I have been too busy for - I love you, I’m sorry. To those who have been distant from me - I love you, I understand. ~ Anonymous #iloveyoufriend #iseeyou #womensupportingwomen (at The 1:1 Diet with Amy and Steve) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQMia9kBYq8/?utm_medium=tumblr