Friendship

Friendship
by Live Music Head

George Harrison (left) Ringo Starr (right) 

photographer unknown

The last time I visited a “friend” in the hospital,

my presence was barely acknowledged.

Whoever was text messaging her as she sat up in bed

was far more important

than showing respect toward someone 

standing there in front of her;

someone who came out of their way to visit in person,

and brought healing gifts.

The friend who respectfully shut off their own cell phone

before entering the hospital room
wasn't even thanked for the healing gifts.

Focusing on bringing positive energy to the situation,

I kept offering conversation when it was largely ignored.

And I kept smiling despite the gnawing in my gut.

When I set out to help this “friend”,

I was genuinely happy to do so,

excited that she was going to be alright

and that she had asked me to come.

I repeat: she asked me to come.

But I left the hospital that night feeling more than just a little
under-appreciated.

Despite that, I offered to come again

preferably at a time when my visit would 

carry a little more value.

I was told she didn’t know when that would be,

that she had 

“A building list of people who are dropping by at some point”.

"Besides," she went on to tell me,

"the last time you were here, 
I did ignore a couple of calls.”

Nothing like making a person feel unworthy 
of being on their "friend"'s exclusive guest list.

Needless to say, 
but I never went back.

Suddenly I had a million and three more important things to do

than stand around a hospital room 
listening to other people’s angry telephone calls,

or trying to make eye contact with someone 

who’s always looking down,

wondering if they would ever get ‘round 

to thanking me for coming,

or asking, “and how are you?”

So impressive these people are who tell other people 
how grateful they should be

when they demonstrate the least amount of gratitude themselves.

Too, these same people are usually in the habit of

alienating their friends by 

constantly telling them how busy they are.

Like there’s anyone in today’s world who isn’t busy?

More appreciation and gratitude was shown me when

I took an apple from my grocery bag and handed it to

a random homeless person on the street.

What Ringo Starr tells us that George Harrison said to him
(while lying on his death bed)
in this clip from the Martin Scorsese film 
Living in the Material World,

speaks to what, 
for me, 
true friendship is...