Better Late than Never…

Our friend who we met in college is perpetually late.  When I say late, I’m not talking 5 minutes late or 10 minutes late, I’m talking 90 minutes late.

Much to her credit, she will always call and let us know. But, when you are planning dinner, it can make it a bit sketchy as you try to figure out timing of things being done, etc.  Knowing this, I made chili tonight. I mean, it can sit there and simmer if worse come to worse.

As we were drinking wine and telling lies, she mentioned how she used to get in trouble in high school for tardiness. She could never get to school on time.  So she just got used to detention.  It’s funny to hear this since this is our perfect friend – always the perfect student, always the perfect appearance, always perfect in every way.  This is what I love about her.  She is truly a study in never judging the book by its cover.

When she was in medical school, we would always bring her food while she was studying for boards and other major exams.  She would hole up in her apartment, and not emerge unless it was for class or for the test.  We would bring her non-ramen noodle foods.  Garbanzo got creative one day and got her foods that should inspire learning about medical topics.  It was a bag of gummy worms – a popular way for people to represent either DNA or germs.  A drink that had tapioca the shape and color of red blood cells.  We also made them homemade bread and other good foods to keep them going.

She was slap happy when we got there.  Sleep deprivation combined with being holed up with her cat and her roommate (another medical student) had clearly taken it’s toll.  She answered the door in a tshirt that looked like it had been worn for several days in a row, sleeping pants and slippers.  Her long (LONG) hair was carelessly tossed back into some make shift bun. It didn’t look like she had showered for a few days.

She picked up the bag of gummy worms and started laughing hysterically.  She handed it to her roommate who joined her in laughter.  Finally after they could talk again, they announced that the gummy worms reminded them of what intestines feel like. Yeah, think of THAT next time you pick up a bag of gummy worms!

Then they read us the “leprosy rap” – a device for them to remember the drugs used to treat leprosy.  I just remember this line “Hey man, you left your hand, on the door, when you came in”.  It went downhill there.  Let’s just say the whole things was a lot funnier to them than it was to us.  Garbanzo and I chuckled at the fact these were our future doctors.  Thank God no one saw them now or else they would never have patients in the future.

But this is our friend.  Always late, but brilliant.  She got through medical school with flying colors – in true form.  A trend she does nothing but continue now as she researches cancer.

The funniest part about tonight – the gift exchange.  After too much wine, we exchanged gifts as we usually do each holiday.  As she opened the one we got her, I opened our gift from them.  As we ripped open the paper, we both started laughing.  We had gotten each other the same book.  And, what is funnier is the fact we had both wanted the book but figured we’d pick it up down the road when we thought about it.  In the meantime, it was the perfect gift for our friend.  A great minds think alike moment.

Despite the late start, we had a good time catching up with her. We drank too much wine. Ate too much food.  And Garbanzo, true to form, gave her son a stash of sweets to “drive his mother crazy with.”  And we thanked her husband for being the designated driver.  Garbanzo gave her a lot of wine.  She has been on-call the past month, and this was her first night off.  He figured she should enjoy a bottle of wine. 

It’s amazing how a great time can help forgive the tardiness. 

10 Comments Add yours

  1. Sa says:

    That’s a wonderful story. I also know people who are always late and plan ahead accordingly, but I agree with you that it can be very annoying, especially if you’re cooking. Was it vegetarian chili?

  2. Just me... says:

    Sounds like a perfect evening.. 🙂

  3. That is a great story. Have you resorted to telling her the meeting time is an hour before it actually is, so she is only 15 minutes late?

  4. That sounds wonderful 🙂 I’m glad you had a great time 🙂

  5. I thought I was the only one that was always on time. I freak out if I am going to be late. Great story.

  6. Sounds like a great time!

  7. I love this story. very well written. I am looking at your blog roll and need to update mine. man….

  8. Bella says:

    I love this. She sounds like a great friend and a fun person, regardless of the tardiness quirk.

  9. garbonzo says:

    Great friends. Great food. Great wine. Great present! What could have been better???

  10. Secretia says:

    People are used to waiting a long time to see the doctor, so she was actually in training by being late all the time 🙂

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