Day 36

Good Grief by Flatbush Zombies featuring Diamante

I was introduced to “God Winks” back in my junior year of high school. They’re exactly as they sound – subtly moments where God reminds you he’s still there. He’s watching over you.

I was on my way to church today and this song came on. It reminded me of my best friend.

Mind you, I’ve mentioned many best friends before in this blog. This one’s a little different. Not only my best friend, but my four year roommate in college.

His nickname was “turtle” back in grade school. He actually hit me up on my recruiting trip while I was on campus. He said he was thinking of going to the same school I was and brought the idea of being roommates to life. I said yes without any hesitation as I used a fake ID to get into the bar and sing karaoke on my visit.

Upon our move in day, little did I know a dude named Turtle would end up being this German God who towered over me in every way possible. So much for the nickname. It was only icing on the cake that his dad had this thick German accent that you just knew meant business. He turned out to be a great guy, but man I just knew I didn’t want to be on his bad side after hearing that voice.

But little did I know this dude would end up being my best friend.

This song serves as sort of the ripple effect of many many many memories we began to embark on and share together. I’d like to share a few.

A few of our core freshman friends would head up to the upper classmen’s dorms after practice. It was named “the castle”. (I can’t actually say the real name, I think my parents read this). We would all head up there together, grab some food at Slater, then head back for Game of Thrones and Rick and Morty.

This song was played at the castle one night. My roommate had a JBL we would blast songs on (I actually think he still has it which is fucking crazy to think). This song became the go to song on the shuffle for showers right before we would go out. To me, it signifies the start of a beautiful friendship.

His mom would bring boxes and boxes of just unbelievable homemade cookies before every semester. I mentioned God earlier – I seriously think God was in each cookie.

I would take a handful of them, put them in the microwave, grab whatever milk I could find, and make what is now coined “cookie soup”. We still laugh about it to this day. It’s a miracle I’m not above 170 pounds.

He brought his xbox one, I still had a 360. There was a weekend where we were planning on visiting a few buddies over at another school. One of our buddies wanted to take our cars to visit us later on. We had an NHL 14 tournament best of 7 series to decide which one of us would let him use our car that weekend. This song was played before we turned on Game of Thrones deep cuts to match the intensity.

I won 4-3. I still have the shitty loose leaf paper of the tallies and series I left on our freshman dorm.

Flash forward a few years, we traveled across the pond together with a few other core friends. We all hopped over to Barcelona together to visit everyone alongside friends from home. After a night out, a few of us headed over to the cafe the next morning. One group went earlier than the other. I happened to stumble across just a disgusting looking fedora hat. It matched the Europe vibe though so I decided to put it on.

Little did I know he’d be rocking the same hat at the cafe and found an extra laying around in the AirBnB. We would roam the Barcelona streets that day with some steez. Let it be known that this is the last person you would expect do something silly, or creative for that matter.

On the surface it comes off as a coincidence. Looking back, I like to think it’s the years of him putting up with my quirkiness and impulsive decision making rubbed off on him that lead him to put on that hat that day.

With that moment in mind, there’s something to be said about your roommate in college. We were great friends from the start, of course, but looking back you start to build a special bond. Especially after 4 years.

You see their way of life almost every day. He’s a straight arrow, whereas I don’t even know what I’m going to have for dinner tonight. I’m sure he realized that when I’d take his towels and flip flops on a regular basis. Type A and Type B coming together to form a unique and special bond that I’ll cherish forever.

I’ve lived with brothers my whole life. When you’re 1 of 5 you get used to it. I’m glad I got to live with my additional brother for those four years and do life together with him back here in Chicago.

I’ve said best friend here a lot. I’m unbelievably blessed to have so many incredible people in my life. To me, a best friend was described beautifully in a Family Guy episode I watched the other day.

Stewie and Brian are talking about the difficulties of life followed by an argument between the two. Later on in the scene, the dialogue follows:

Stewie: What would i do if you weren’t here? Hmm? You’re the only one that makes my life bearable!

Brian: I thought you said i was the best of a bad situation.

Stewie: I was just trying to hurt you because you hurt me. But the truth is… You’re my only friend Brian. If i didn’t have you i would be lost!

Brian: Ah, you would be okay. [Says numb]

Stewie: No, i wouldn’t. I don’t really care about anybody else, just you. You’re the only one i like.

Brian: Well… Thanks.

Stewie: I like you lot. I guess you could say I… really like you. I would… even dare to go a little further, perhaps. I… care a great deal about you. Very great deal. Maybe even… deeper than that. I… I… I love you. I mean, you know, not in like a, “Hey, let’s, you know, let’s have an underpants party,” or whatever grownups do when they’re in love, but I mean, I mean, I love you as one loves another person whom one simply cannot do without.

Brian: Well I… I love you, too, Stewie.

Stewie: You give my life purpose, and maybe, maybe that’s enough. Because that’s just about the greatest gift one friend can give another.

My four year roommate/best friend was the first person that came to mind after this scene.

Who’s cutting unions?