Filtering for a "Best friend" ?

My mind is fleetingly hovering around the topic of “friendship” and more specifically, the dynamic of “Best friend” - ship.  (Please indulge me while I blather…)

For me, as a youth, the paramount concern when filtering for a “best” friend was simply what kind of snacks did their Mom dish out?

The most sought-after “Best” friends were those whose Mom’s couldn’t be bothered with a sit down meal, choosing just to hand out “Moon pies” or “Ding Dongs” to the kids as she showed them the door…

“Go outside to play…  OUTSIDE!!”

Now that was a Mom!  When word on the street got out that someone actually had a Mom like that, he became the most popular and sought after playmate, and his house became a veritable social Mecca!

New “Best-friend-wannabe’s” would crowd up to his house every day, jockeying to curry “best friend” favor.  (Side note:  What power and influence wise Mom’s could wield if they only knew it!)  

I thought I had such a potential best friend once, but when I gravitated over to his house one lazy, boring summer day, I was disheartened and flummoxed when I spotted him “holding court” in the midst of the hopefuls (and was not encouraged as I noted the “candidate” line wrapping around the corner.)  As I sized up the situation, I stopped, and a dread fell over me.  With a noticeable “Huff” and/or “Sigh,” I turned aside and reluctantly paddled over to my “old” Best friend’s house.

“Wanna stay for lunch?” he asked.  “My Mom’s got some celery stalks and carrots!”

(Man, I’ve got to make some new, and better, “Best” friends…)

Acquiring a Best friend according to an earlier Blog which outlined my potential best seller and Pulitzer winner, The Rules of Play, is simply finding a playmate who 1. Wants to have some fun, and 2. Consents to the rules you both agree to (and isn’t always quibbling.) [“And doesn’t get you into trouble!!” so says Staff.]  Just to note:  You give a kid a much wider latitude on the Rules if his Mom has good snacks.

It’s All About the Rules of Play!  Coming to a bookstore near you!!  (Well, after it gets past the Focus Group and is actually written...)

Side note:  There is no better feeling possible to experience in youth than when a poor, deflated (and hungry) chap hears the magical music as if from heaven:

Friend:  “Hey, wait up!  WAIT UP!  Where you been?  I’ve been  waiting for you all day over at my house.”

Chris:  “I saw you holding court and I thought that you didn’t…”

Friend:  “I’m sorry!  I didn’t see you.  I slipped out the back to find you.  Do you still wanna play?” 

(As previously stated, when Rule #3 is properly employed, it saves the day and hence the Play.  Let the games continue!)  (until dark.)

Friend:  “I’m really sorry I almost missed you.  Look what my Mom sent along…”

Chris:  “Moon pies?!!”  This has been the Best day of my whole life!  Life is good and it’s fun to have fun especially with my new Best friend (and his Mom.)

Blatheringly yours,

                                     

Chris