Back in the day, and I can’t specify the exact one, but it was in the 80’s and my new roommate had gone out of town. In her place she asked her friend to stay at the apartment since I was the new roommate moving in.

Who knew that almost 40 years later, that “friend” is still in my life, and gave me my life long name the Witqueen.

At first I was unsure of moving in with people a bit older than me, but it didn’t take long that, at times, I was the responsible one, as shenanigans abound. We lived right down the street from the Square Bar, so we were in walking distance and didn’t have to worry about driving. I found that my other BFF Janet, was definitely a part of the crew as well.

Michael is and was a fabulous dancer. While my dancing was relegated to a once in a while trip to Pulsations, but mostly spent dancing at WEB, at out church, there came those special times when I got to dance with him.

Dancing in the basement of a church for 3 hours, was fun and entertaining, but nothing could compare to dancing with, as we lovingly called him The Pig King. Or Drama Queen depending on the amount of alcohol consumed that evening. I remember one of my favorite evenings, Michael, Janet, and myself ended up at the Treadway Inn. I don’t remember who was playing that night, or if it was a DJ, but I do remember getting pulled onto the dance floor with Michael…and we owned it. People actually stopped dancing to watch us, and we worked it. Honestly it was, to this day, the best dance night of my life. (Freshette night excluded, but that’s another blog for another time)

As we went on with our lives, mostly good, some completely silly (drunk) when Michael insisting “You can’t throw me out of my own house!” when quite frankly our drunken butts were in front of Janet’s house. Jesus we still make reference to it, to this day. I still can’t listen to Dream Girls, without reliving seeing it with him and Janet. I still have the album, and was beyond pleased when it came back out on Broadway and a movie.

Out of all of this, lifelong friendships were born. But one day, Michael told us that he was moving to California. We understood, you have to follow your dreams, but we were losing our Drama Queen to the Hollywood Hills.

Wanting to show Michael how much we loved and were going to miss him, I convinced the girls to go to Olan Mills to get professional pictures done. Originally the plan was to be in lingerie holding a banner and props, but Jennifer was pregnant, so the Sexy Ladies of Pigmology as we named ourselves, came up with props and fully clothed. The photographer was totally into it, because if you day after day, take normal studio shots, and 8 women walk in with smiles and a twinkle in their eye, game on.

Michael made his way west, and was very successful. But we missed him, so Jacquie and I decided that we would go visit him.

It’s easy enough to assume that in the 80s you can get in just as much trouble out west as you could back east. Nothing too terrible, but I certainly learned that a policeman will stop you in Beverly Hills if you jaywalk. Really? We flashed our boobs at midnight on the corner of Hollywood and Vine, and nary a care. But cross Rodeo Drive in the middle of the day, and well that’s a ticket! Well I talked him out of it being from out of town and all that, but phht. Get over it already…

We returned home and I don’t think I ever got back there, but we kept in touch. Life continues and we lost touch with the girls, Jacque ended up relocating to California, Jennifer got married, and had kids, but I still had her do my hair. Most of the S.L.O.P moved on with their lives and got married, and we lost touch. Janet and I are still best friends, even though my life kept me moving on, but I would find myself moving back to West Chester to be where I loved it most, and friends were close.

Before you realize it, decades pass, friendships remain, and you just want things to remain as you fondly remember.

But life is four letter word too. Most people don’t think of it like that, but I’ve kept in contact with Michael as he continued his adventures on the west coast then finally Viva Las Vegas. Apparently it’s not like Elvis made it out to be, and he regaled me with stories of the strip. Who knew working at Walgreens could be so harrowing? No thank you.

Michael and I kept in touch over the years, and thankfully it is one good thing about FB and knowing your friends are just an odd ringtone away. Sure there is a time difference, but normally its not an issue, because this woman is not known as the Sleep Queen. Actually we coined the phrase “Sleep is for Slackers” when playing an online war game. I may have missed a call or two but last week, my message dings with the familiar, Call Me Darling from the King of Queens himself.

This time, there was no laughing, just heartbreak. I knew Michael had been having some health issues, but this time, the news wasn’t good. The doctor’s diagnosis was terminal and he has a couple of months left to live. I took it all in, asked questions, googled what he was telling me, trying to find a different answer, a different solution. But reality does suck at times, and there was nothing I could do to “fix it.” So we talked and tried to make sense, and you come to the realization there is no upside, its just preparing for the end, and that sucks. Big chunky wads. The kind you don’t swallow, because your mind is racing while you try not to let your friend know that life isn’t going to be the same without him.

I love you Michael. You gave me so much, your crowned me your Queen of Wit. I wouldn’t be me, without you. You’re in my world forever, and though you’re far you’re always close in my heart. So thank you for the years, the laughter, the tears, the joy your friendship brought to me, and to all of us. You mattered, and no one can take that from you.