Lean on me

What do girdles, head gear, and Microsoft online solution centers have in common?
If you are thinking that they are all painful institutions created to inflict torture, you would be partially correct. But I'm talking about Support.
For reasons unbeknownst to me, I am training for a 5k coming up at the end of January in the gnarly city of Santa Cruz. Just another hodad on the boardwalk. But seeing as it is my first physical endeavor of the sort, I turned to my pal Annie, a seasoned athlete, for support.
The conversation went like this:

me: i heard earl grey has a nice taste

btw

9:21 AM im training for a marathon!

annita: are you?

me: on jan 29

annita: wait

the marathon is ON jan 29th?

how long have you been training

me: a day

2 days

scratch that

its been 3 days

annita: you're lying arent you

9:22 AM me: nope

its the truth

annita: i'm very proud shereen!

but a month isn't alot of training

9:23 AM me: lol i know

its not a big one

only like 5k i think

9:24 AM annita: wait

that's not a marathon shereen....

9:25 AM me: are we splitting hairs now

ok im taking a walk around my neighborhood

but im calling it a marathon

9:26 AM annita: cool i'm going to partake in the kentucky derby

but instead of a horse it's my legs

and instead of a track, it's around the mall

me: awesome

9:27 AM let me know how seabiscuit is doing

and by seabiscuit i mean the mall security guard

Now, she's no Bill Withers, but I've learned that every friend is supportive in their own way. Some friends pat you on the back, others make you pie (none of my friends make me pie, but I assume they exist), and still others make sarcastic metaphors to show their support and keep you grounded. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Here's to friends! And to all of your other loyal supporters.

other kinds of support: Financial Support