Well That Didn't Work

YES I DO ...
I received a text message on my cell phone last night from a number I didn't recognize. "Hey Sam," it said. "I know I have been a bad friend. I am sorry I did not tell you how awkward I felt. You are so sweet and wonderful and you need to know that. I appreciate so much all you have done for me."

I didn't know what to make of it since I didn't know who the message was from. I decided to find out, so I called the number from which the message was sent. It turns out that it was a friend of mine from GW, a girl that was one of Dennis' neighbors at the beginning of the school year, when were still together...I hadn't heard from her in months.

This particular friend, whose name I shall withhold, has some rather serious issues with depression. I had tried to help her get the help she needed last year; I gave her the numbers of a bunch of places that she could seek help on a college student's budget, either free or extremely inexpensive. The real challenge had been finding someone that would treat a minor without parental permission. (My friend only turned 18 in January and her father, like countless others, would not look kindly upon his daughter seeking psychiatric treatment.)

Anyway, I hadn't heard from her in a few months, so I was quite surprised to hear her voice on the other end of the phone line. I was even more surprised when she said, "so, yeah...I was released from the psych ward of the George Washington University Hospital yesterday." She proceeded to tell me that one week ago, her life finally caught up with her and she had taken the advice that I'd given her months before to check herself into a hospital if she needed to. "The doctor there reminded me of you," she said.

When I got off the phone, I had a huge smile on my face. I was really glad that my friend was taking positive steps in her life, that she was getting the help she needed and deserved. I must confess that I also felt a great, but horribly selfish, sense of accomplishment. Something that I told someone months ago had touched her so much that she had not only remembered it after such a period of time, but had appreciated it enough to thank me. "The doctor reminded me of you," she had said. "You should be a psychiatrist."

"I'm gonna be," I said, smiling. She was thrilled.

So, now, basically, I'm confident that I've found my calling. After we got off the phone, my friend and I continued to talk online. She kept repeating, "you get it," throughout the conversation...and there it was. Suddenly I was back to my normal mood level..."yeah, I do," I typed...yes I do. Comments ()

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