is it?

While looking at this picture- let me just state, these are all great women. Having stated that- I want to talk about one of them specifically.

She's the African Princess in the green shirt and black and white skirt.

Her name is Mpumi.

She's fantastic.

And... she may just kill me for writing about her on here.

I met her on fast sunday in september of 2008. I had a terrible case of tonsilitus and had completely lost my voice. She walked up to me and said "How's it?" to which I blankly stared at her. I smiled nervously and said with a raspy horse voice "what?" She laughed and said "It means, How are you?"

Thats the most basic form of the story. The most realistic on actual event. But as I've learned in school this past semester, absolute occurance is irrelavent. So while I tell you we met on my first sunday half way across the world from where I grew up, I should probably tell you we met while standing in the middle of the freeway facing on coming traffic. I was looking around nervously, knowing how out of place I was, but tried to hold my shoulders back to seem as if I blend. Then, as soon as I became comfortable, or at least used to, the cars racing by me only to slow down and gawk at the little girl standing on the freeway, Mpumi walked out onto the freeway, stood next to me, and said "well... hi there."

There are conections in life that are so rare, the english language holds no words to describe the feeling of them, let alone the action of them. How I feel about Mpumi is one of those. I was in South Africa for barely under 4 months. 4 of the most glorious, hardest, and spiritual months of my life, and Mpumi was by me through-out the entire journey. With only a few month friendship I'm sure you wonder, how close can you really get?

Once again... sometimes there just are no words.

She's incredibly strong, amazingly forgiving, remarkibly understanding, and beautifully compassionate.

When my mother past away, one of the things I struggled with was- Mom never met Mpumi... here... on earth. That is actually something I struggle with with a lot of people in my life, that they haven't met her.

This post is being written out of guilt. She's the best friend I've ever had, and possibly will ever have, and I have no idea if she's even dating anyone. While I hope that everyone has someone in their life that resembles our friendship, I hope that everyone is better at maintaining and perserving this gift.

Wether it was a gift, a blessing, a tender mercy, or freak lining up of the stars, This African Princess has been my inexplicible best friend. I hope you have one too, and more importantly I hope they know it.

Someday- My Prince Will Come.

I was recently asked who my favorite Prince Charming was. This person was, what seemed to be, surprised, shocked even, when I replied "I don't know." I didn't know. I sat there and racked my brain, thinking of every Prince. The Prince (Snow White), Prince Eric (Ariel), Prince Charming (Cinderella), Prince Phillip (Sleeping Beauty), Prince Adam (Beauty and the Beast...... yes I looked up his name....), and Prince Ali (Fabulous is he, Ali Ababwa (Aladdin)). I thought about each one, who they were, how they were with their princess, the works. And sadly, I didn't want any one of them as MY prince. I didn't want my Prince to think everything was fixed with a kiss, that it was ok to fall in love with someone else (even when under "a spell"), that he could kiss me after our first dance (where we hardly even talked). I don't want someone who loves me (or doesn't) because their parents say, with such a bad temper, or someone with such a bad habit of lying.

A few days later I made a phone call and informed my friend with my choice....

This... Is Phoebus.

He's the Knight In Shinning Amour from Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Why would I pick him over a Prince? Over instant wealth, fabulous clothing, and zero facial hair (which we all know, while kissing it irritates the skin). Why would I pick this... average guy? Here are just a few bullet points.

- He pursued her.

-Fantastic sense of Humility

-Willing to go against something he'd worked so hard for, to be apart of good.

-Even in crummy situations, he talks it out.

-Allows her (his princess) to take care of him.

-Pretty silly at times

-And... Lets be honest... I've got a thing for light hair and scruff.

My reasons for wanting him are actually much deeper than what I'm posting. But to it's most basic form, he's her friend. He doesn't hold her higher than him, he also doesn't look down on her. He see's the good in her, hears her out, and discusses ideas with her. He also just has a good heart. Which would be really hard in his position... or maybe not hard, just easier to ignore I suppose.

Also... I kinda have a thing for this guy:

This is Tarzan.

But I mean really...

Who doesn't love a guy who

-Speaks another language

-Has such a strong love for his family

-Is that determined

-Combs the hair out of your face

-Can't help but stare into your eyes

-... Has those nice of pecs...

Like with Phoebus, my reasons for wanting this Jungle man are much more complex than what I'm sharing over the world wide web. But, here is my biggest reason for wanting this hairless ape: their (Tarzan and Jane's) desire to learn from each other, and to teach each other. They were both content in their worlds. Both understood their own worlds. Yet, they yearned for each other's knowledge. They were both smart enough to teach the other, and humble enough to learn from one another. Through their friendship, and willingness to let each other into their lives, they fell in love.

So there you have it my friends and Internet stalkers. I'm looking for a Knight in Shinning Armour, who may have originated from a jungle in Africa. Or... more simply put... the man I've said I've been looking for for a while now... My Best Friend, Who I Just Happen to Wanna Make Out With.