The sound “Om” is most often heard in yoga classes and interpreted in different yet similar ways. Its been said that the sound helps one align with the Universe or calms down the nervous system, releasing anxiety out of the body. For me, the bottom line is that this slow-moving sound, “Om” is a respectful and solemn way of saying “my soul recognizes your soul”. In some circles, there is a belief that our souls light up like a pinball machine with energy when we are connected with those souls we recognize.

Valentine’s Day is this week and normally, I would hide under the covers until this man-made holiday passed over me in a dark cloud of mist and wait until the chocolate goes on sale at the CVS. This year, I decided to pay homage to my own “Om”, my own sound and vibration, my best friend, Sonya. A love letter, if you will.

I met Sonya at Temple University, through her now husband, Chris, our soul connector. It wasn’t that Chris just met me and introduced me to his then girlfriend. No, I gracelessly made a play for this man in my not so subtle way by stalking him in his place of work until my 21^st birthday arose and I worked up the nerve to ask him to join me and my friends at “da club”. He accepted my invitation with the caveat that he would have to talk with his live-in girlfriend to see if “they” were available. Cue deflated balloon. Then I met her. Cue the tinsel. Standing before me was this gorgeous woman in her Docs and rolled cuffed jeans. But it wasn’t what she was wearing it was her energy I was tingling all over as I looked into those big, amber eyes. My soul was hollering, “I know you!”

We became fast friends at Chris’s chagrin; he often says to us now, in jest, “She was my friend first”, which I find endearing and one of the most lovable things about him. I know he does that out of my insecurity, but when he says things like “proud of my girls” I feel a bond to him that is love. I owe him everything. He connected us through no fault of his own.

Mind you, I am not one to connect with people regularly, I have been introverted from birth, now what they call “introvert-extrovert”. However, when I meet someone I connect with, I’m all in, almost to the point of annoyance. Sonya and I have Thelma and Louise’d it across the country, drank 40’s on the steps of God knows whose house in West Philly, and shared more tears than most should have to experience.

Now in the fight of her life, I want my best friend to know, my soul recognizes your soul, and I will not back down from slaying dragons for you. On Valentines’ Day it is important for me to tell her, you are my heart, you are my soul and our crew will put the beat down on any monster that crosses your path. I love you, I know you and I got you.