"Just Friends"

There is a myriad of different ways to define a relationship these days. Some are fairly simple - parent to child, brother to sister, friend to friend, etc. Of course, you can get creative with nomenclature, but no matter whether you call someone your homeboy or your bff, the world still recognizes that as falling under the "friend to friend" category. Things get a little more complicated when we start talking "male to female" (or vice versa. Now , I'm not one of those people who thinks that men and women are only friends if they have some romantic motives lurking beneath the surface; but even the most optimistic idealist would probably admit to having pursued an acquaintance for something more than just a lunch buddy at some point in his or her life. So we have a man and a woman who have 'feelings' for each other (don't you just love this jargon?). Do we just call them a couple and be done with it? Oh no, that would be too easy! If you asked the woman, "What are you and John Doe over there," she may reply mentally something like this: "Well, we're friends but we like each other but we haven't really said anything but I know that he likes me but I'm not really ready for a relationship right now..." You get the idea. Of course, no self-respecting woman would give an answer like that, except perhaps to her closest girlfriend, so what comes out instead?
"Oh, we're just friends."
In case there is any doubt about what it means to be "just friends," I've put together a handy dandy checklist. These are things from my personal experience, so if you have an addendum, please comment and share your story :)

1. You and your friend sit less than three inches apart on a couch, when the rest of the couch is empty.


2. You look forward to rainy days because you get to share an umbrella with your friend (small umbrellas are preferred in such situations).


3. (For the ladies) You take every opportunity you get to tell your friend how cold you are, in hopes that he will put a friendly arm around your shoulders.


4. (For the gents)You find yourself complimenting your friend on her looks at least 3 times as much as you do any other acquaintance.


5. You have regular "outings" with your friend (dinner and a movie are always a good choice)


6. You think of your friend every time you hear a romantic ballad.


7. It's a regular occurrence for you to catch your friend staring at you (or vice versa).


8. Somehow, whether your friend is coughing up a lung or sweaty and disgusting, you still want him/her to be near.


9. You discover that your friend's jokes are ten times funnier than any other jokes you may have ever heard (this rule applies to any of your friend's creative endeavors).


10. You're going through a rough time and you need a 20-minute pep talk from anyone else, but all it takes from your friend to help you get through it all is just a smile :)

So What's Your Song?

So every couple has to have a song that they have deemed "our song", right? Answer: yes. It just seems to happen. It really has nothing to do with how affectionate they are, how sweet they are, or how much they like music. The "our song" really doesn't even have to be in a style that both parties usually enjoy. Why? Because it's all about the lyric content of the song. Abbi and I really have a few songs like that (because of memories, etc.), but there is really one that would stand out as "our song": "When Did You Fall" by Chris Rice. It is a simple song in a jazz-pop style with, at times, quite witty lyrics. As we have discovered, it's actually a great driving song. You  know... drivin' along, maybe going out on a date, maybe just driving around... all of  sudden, BAM! ...song...

...smiles...

It's really a wonderful thing to have a song by which two people can relate and reminisce. Especially dealing with love and romance. So here's the plan: I'll post the lyrics to "our song" and you all can post the names and lyrics of YOUR "our songs" ;) Just comment back with it!

God bless you guys!

"When Did You Fall" - Chris Rice

You’re all smiles and silly conversation

As if this sunny day came just for you

You twist your hair, you smile, and you turn your eyes away

C’mon, tell me what’s right with you

Now it dawns on me probably everybody’s talkin’

And there’s something here I’m supposed to realize

‘Cause your secret’s out, and the universe laughs at its joke on me

I just caught it in your eyes, it’s a beautiful surprise

When did you fall in love with me?

Was it out of the blue

‘Cause I swear I never knew it

When did you let your heart run free?

Have you been waiting long?

When did you fall in love with me?

When did you fall in love?

Make your way over here, sit down by this fool, and let’s rewind

C’mon, let’s go back and replay all our scenes

You can point out the hints, the clues, the twists and the smiles this time

All the ones that slipped by me

I bet my face is red, and you can hear my heart poundin’

Well I guess it don’t matter now that I realize

‘Cause baby I missed it then, but I can surely see you now

Right here before my eyes

You’re my beautiful surprise

When did you fall in love with me?

Was it out of the blue

‘Cause I swear I never knew it

When did you let your heart run free?

Have you been waiting long?

When did you fall in love with me?

When did you fall in love?

Was it at the coffee shop

Or that morning at the bus stop

When you almost slipped, and I caught your hand

Or the time we built the snowman

The day at the beach, sandy and warm

Or the night with the scary thunderstorm

I never saw the signs

Now we’ve got to make up for lost time

And I can tell now by the way that you’re looking at me

I’d better finish this song so my lips will be free

Have you been waiting long, when did you fall in love

I kept you waiting so long, when did you fall

Have you been waiting long

When did you fall in love with me

When did you fall in love?

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/when_did_you_fall_lyrics_chris_rice.html

All about Chris Rice: http://www.musictory.com/music/Chris+Rice

Sooooooo...

Sooooooo... call me a bad blogger, but I haven't posted anything recently because I was feeling sick and had tons (no, literally: tons) of work to do. I'll be happy to start blogging again! Also, I will be on tour with a choral ensemble during spring break, so most posts will probably be from Abbi, but I will try some mobile uploads during our long hours on the tour bus - oh the joys of singing ;) Soooooooo... get ready for some wonderful posts in the near future! Your turn, Abbi. Hit 'em with your best shot. Here's a fun little poem to tide you guys over. Not rhyming. Just a fun and off-kilter look at romance. Oh... and all you guys out there: You know you've felt like this guy before...

Speech Impediment

Each morning, we stood at the bus stop
Not together, but in proximity
Day after day, week after week
I would glance at her in admiration
But I would never speak to her
There would be an occasional nod
And sometimes a smile
I would have liked to ask her out
I had almost done so many times
But my nerve would always go
So often I formed the question in my head
But the words wouldn’t come out
I always steeled myself
For the big moment, but it never happened
Then one day
When she looked particularly alluring
I thought to myself
This time will be different
This time I have rehearsed,
Though only on the cat,
This time I will do it.
So armed with a well constructed sentence
I made my move
I took a deep breath
Turned to face her,
The sentence looping through my head
Over and over
I opened my mouth to speak
But the sentence did not appear
Instead jumbled words tumbled out
From my anxiously dry mouth,
But not in the order I intended
Some words inappropriately joined together
Giving an all together different meaning
That may have caused her to be offended
It had gone better with the cat.
I just stood there
Spouting my nervous stuttering gibberish
I thought she must think me such an idiot
And fully expected her to laugh in my face
But instead she smiled at my nervousness
And reformed the words into a sentence,
The very sentence I had rehearsed,
Spoke it back to me
And then smiling broadly, answered yes

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