When I was little, I had a favorite poem in a book: "Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of." Now when I think of that child's rhyme I cannot help but to think of Mar.
I had heard countless stories about Mar from Jenn, "She is so much fun, I can't wait for you to meet her, you will like her and get along so well." I had heard that about so many people from countless mouths, rarely was the prediction true, "Too bad she is stuck up her loser boyfriend's ass and always spending the weekends with him in Covington." So when I finally had the chance to meet this girl I had been hearing about, I jumped at it.
When I first met Mar she was in her apartment "getting ready for a date" to the Orpheum Theater. I thought to myself, her boyfriend sure must be something special for her to put so much into being as effortlessly beautiful as she is. Then there was a knock, Mar came rushing out of her bedroom, a cloud of perfume trailing behind her. She answered the front door. Before Jenn, Mar and I, there stood a very handsome and distinguished looking gentleman every bit of 49 years old. My mouth dropped and my mind was swirling, was it the beer or the flowery scent in the air?
He said, "Hurry up, we are late. I'll be waiting in the car."
As soon as the door shut the perfume cleared from the room. I gave Jenn a wild eye look and in
disbelief asked, "Where did she meet her boyfriend and how old is he?"
Jenn fell over in a fit of laughter, "OhMyGod! That is her dad!"
First impressions are first impressions. In all of my life I have never seen someone change a first impression in such a short amount of time as Mar. From dressed to go to an opera, ok Les Miserable, with an 'older man' to running through the cold January rain down Beale Street to drink beer at an after-the-party birthday party. Mar burst through the doors of the bar with such a blast of energy the entire bar stopped to see this sultry red-headed wonder. I was amazed. How could a woman of barely twenty have so much charisma as to spellbind an entire party with a simple twist of her hips, a flirty rise of an eyebrow, a twinkle in her eyes and a full out smile on her lips?
Although she would never admit it Mar is strong: emotionally, mentally and willfully. She is confident in herself and transfers her confidence towards her friends. She is uplifting and also willing to stand behind a friend or beside them when they are not strong enough to stand on their own. She has a quick wit, a fierce temper, and a mischievous streak that more often than not has brought hours of laughter into our friendship. She is not afraid to tell a joke, or crack one on herself. She is humble and admits when she is wrong. Mar is honest, if not blunt. She loves her friends entirely, forgiving their flaws. If I could pick one adjective phrase to describe her it would be "pure sex appeal." She has taught me what it is to be a Southern girl, dually appreciated. She is the ultimate 'can-do' girl, comfortable playing with snails and puppy dog tails in the country or makeup in the city. I am proud to admit that Mar is my friend.
Before Mar moved from Memphis to Texarkana, TX she carried a video camera around for weeks making everyone she knew tell stories about herself. Me, forever procrastinating, said I would do it later. Really I was avoiding the 55lbs the camera adds, kidding... besides when I'm perpetually behind the camera why would I want to be in front of it? Essentially, I have too many wonderful stories about Mar to choose just one.
One horrible day during Spring Break, with a Sam's club card pressed against my cell phone and that to my ear, "I hope you are ready to drink because I am bringing the beer." Armed with two cases I drive my jalopy across the Mid-South interstate system then winding through various ghettos and barrios. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon Mar and I started drinking. I don't remember much more than singing and dancing on the balcony and hollering at guys passing by or on the phone, but one thing I will never forget is that day I gained an invaluable friendship.
In the course of our friendship Mar and I have spent too numerous of hours on runs, ok walks around the University campus, the only thing really running is our mouths, fondly referred to as "Boy Venting Walks and Talks." With Mar's 'good head' on her shoulders and talking through our social lives, she gave me the courage to change my life, "You're not in love with him, you love someone else...blah, blah, blah."
Besides, being the voice of reason - I must admit that Mar has never tried to influence me from random make out sessions with Grande Juan, it must simply be a slight lapse of my judgment or sobriety - Mar can be the little devil that sits just above your ear whispering evil thoughts and ideas. At least when she is the instigator she sees the concept through to actualization. Visualize~Actualize. Whether it is dancing on stage at the local pub, walking home drunk and pushing over every trash can on the street, getting me to act like a complete fool to win the attention of some guy, although I am quite good of doing so on my own, drunk dialing guys - it always seems like a good idea at the time, or even yelling Sigma Epsilon Chi chants at the tops of our lungs, Mar always has an ace up her sleeve and a design at making the situation better. She is the life of the party.
When Mar and Torin found each other I was never so excited. Although with him she has calmed down, trust me, you have to meet Mar. She is so much fun. You will indeed discover that she is sugar, but a little warning: watch for the spice.
