The upper echelon of my friendships are not measured by the number of pickle back shots I've taken with individuals, or the ridiculously stupid inside jokes created on Vegas trips, or the nights we've had to collectively piece together, or even the amount of laughs we've shared. Sure, this is a large piece of the puzzle, but its only part of the equation.
The moment I seek you out on a bad day is when we've gotten to that level, not a second before. Its an innate reaction directed to the most appropriate person for that particular situation, and if its that bad—I call in various members of the support squad.
I called Kaye while I was at the Fremont Bart station, as soon as I opened up the door to my car. I left work early because I couldn't focus and I was already crying just walking across the parking lot. I hid my marital problems from her for at least 2 months (cause I thought I could fix it), and then I exploded right there, in the middle of the day bawling my eyes out in the drivers seat. I should've told her so much sooner, but I'm stubborn as fuck. (Hi, you know this.)
Abby has dropped whatever she was currently doing and got to me as fast as she could on my darkest days. She saw me at rock-fucking-bottom. If at any point during my life in which I metaphorically flat-lined and died, she was there to witness it. She also made sure I came back to life.
I text Jen when I need comforting words, no bullshitting and no fluff. I openly tell her I feel like shit and I ask her to "tell me something good." She replies back without any false promises, just positivity and realness.
Sometimes I rapid-fire text Rob when I can't deal. He gets paragraph-long text messages of me venting. I'm talking long-fucking-winded shit. I get it off my chest, he responds accordingly and I thank him each and every time.
Joanne always offered me her couch and company on days I didn't want to be alone. Its one thing to have friends who always want to see you when you're good, its another thing to have them welcome you into their lives and homes when you feel like you're a strong candidate for an anti-depressant commercial.
There were a few times at work when I used to turn to Olivia and tell her I internally felt like absolute shit. She would just hug me and allow me to feel whatever it was until it passed. She would always check on me the next day and most of the time I was already over whatever I was feeling.
I directly went up to Jun the morning after I found out ex-Mr had gotten his new chick pregnant. He hugged me that day. Jun is my best cousin, he and I do not physically interact in any way. I repeat… He hugged me.
I am there to return the favor for when they're at odds with their husbands / boyfriends / significant others. I'm there to play mediator when the disagreements get out of hand. I tell them they're fucking stupid when they're acting fucking stupid. Sometimes I'm just there to lend an ear. Other times I'm there to remind them that life is good, despite whatever bumps come along the road.
Best friends aren't about seeing you at your best times, its when they're there to help you through your worst.
I love my team.