When we Grow Up

I made my first best friend when I was born, which I consider quite an accomplishment. See, my mother and her sisters and brother were always very close, so I was blessed to have my 12 cousins as my first friends. The year I was born, three of us cousins were born in a span of three weeks and two days. Being that my mother and two of her sisters lived in the same apartment complex, my cousin Marc (who is three weeks older than me to the day) became my first best friend.

Marc loved to share everything, including the pneumonia he got at 5 weeks old. The two of us were put in the hospital together in a "steam room" where we recuperated together. I have a great memory, but I have to admit that from 1 to 2 weeks old, I don't really remember that steam room. I was told that Marc was a really good baby, never really crying, while I cried all the time. My mother would beg Auntie Micki (Marc's mom) to let her push Marc's stroller and her push mine. I guess it was a bit embarrassing having a baby who screamed all day and night.

I also had the chance many times over to watch the footage of the old movies of Marc and I as babies. I was walking really young, and Marc would crawl up and grab my legs and try to pull me down – he didn't like that his little cousin could walk first.  

I remember us playing all the time, especially when the weather was nice. Our mothers would throw a big blanket on the grass outside of the apartment complex and bring snacks. Marc got his first tricycle on his third birthday, so of course I received mine three weeks later. I remember us riding our red trikes; I talked him into thinking that he had to put mud on the back to fill it with gas and even made a fake gas station. Marc was always a little gullible, and would throw loads of mud on his tricycle – never wanted to run out of gas.

I remember when I was 4, Marc's sister Kimmi having to come over because Marc was rushed to the hospital. He had broken his leg and I was screaming and crying. See, I thought his leg fell off and I was petrified of broken bones and especially of casts. Marc's dad, Uncle Sammy, lifted me up after they came home from the hospital and told me I had to be brave for Marc. I then proceeded to spend my summer pushing Marc in a stroller that they converted into a "wheelchair" for Marc and I sat with him on the blanket all day long, foregoing my tricycle, so he would not feel bad about his leg.

As we started school, I did not get to see Marc everyday anymore and started to make other friends. We lived about a mile away from each other and played together on the weekends and holidays. Then, when we turned about 12, we were allowed to ride our bicycles to each other's houses. Marc dated my friends, I dated his friends and of course, we went every Friday night to the roller palace with our group of friends. When Marc got his moped, it made it much quicker for us to get around and we drove everywhere and anywhere we wanted. I am sure our parents would have been mortified that we would hang out by the lake, or take buses across town to Randall Mall.

When I turned 15, I moved even closer to Marc and of course when we turned 16 we took Driver's Education together. Back in the olden days, you took Drivers Ed. at school and could not get your license until it was completed. Being that we both had spring birthdays, we had to wait till June to complete the course and get our licenses. I made my appointment well in advance for June 10th; Marc made his for June 12. When he found out I was getting my license first, he was furious. I called the License Bureau and changed our appointments around, so he could get his first. 

As we grew up, I got married young and raised my family while Marc went out and had the fun. Marc and I always stayed in close touch and still talk to each other nearly every day. Being the oldest of three girls, I always wanted a big brother (Believe me I remind him every time he has a birthday how he is much, much older than I), and I feel I have always had a big brother and more importantly, a good friend in Marc!

Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack - When We Grow Up - YouTube