Everyone has that one friend that no matter how much time you give them, they constantly manage to show up late. Whether it’s to lunch, a party, or their own funeral, you can count on them showing up at least 30 minutes after everyone else.
If you are in fact the “late” friend, you understand just how impossible it is to show up to anywhere on time. Little by little, your friends have learned to accept your tardiness and love you for it anyway. After all, being the “late” friend is not a choice…it’s a way of life.
Here are 10 words that mean something different when you’re the “late” friend.
1. "On my way"
To everyone else this literally means they are on their way. To you, this means you are still frantically running around your house trying to find your left sock while receiving a million incoming text messages asking where you are. What else is one to do?
2. Roll Call
To everyone else this is a way to be accounted for coming to class. To you, this is a friendly reminder of something that you will never be present for. It is also accompanied by the stress of having to talk to your professor after class about how you "just walked in" after your name was called. Definitely not true, but works like a charm.
3. "Hurry up"
To everyone else this means that you need to move at a pace faster than you are currently moving at. To you, this means the more you say it, the slower I will go. Trust me.
4. Plans
To everyone else these are set dates and times that you wish to attend something. To you these are imaginary events that maybe you'll make it to....maybe you won't. Depends on how you're doing on time that day. I can't foresee the future here!
5. "Come Outside"
To everyone else this is a quick reminder that you're friend is waiting for you. To you it's a mini heart attack as you're laying in a towel, just showered, scrolling through Instagram for 15 minutes when you should have been getting ready.
6. Excuses
To everyone else this is something that you feel bad making. To you, it is an everyday part of life. You are constantly coming up with new excuses as to why you're late to everything. It may not be healthy, but it sure keeps those creative juices flowing.
7. Marathon
To everyone else this is a 26.2-mile trek. To you, this is an accurate representation of your life. You start off strong, but quickly begin to fizzle out as you pass the finish line much after the time you wished to.
8. Stress
To everyone else this is a result of having too much homework, not enough time to study, or simply just too much on the mind. To you, this is the feeling you face each morning as you run down the hall sweating bullets trying to make it to class before the 5-minute late mark.
9. Presentable
To everyone else this means waking up 2 hours before class, doing your hair and makeup, and picking out a nice outfit. To you this means anything besides what you wore to bed…so you switch out your pajamas for a new pair of sweats and you’re on your way!
10. Time Management
To everyone else, this is "the ability to use one's time effectively or productively, especially at work" (Dictionary.com). For us "late friends" it is a term completely foreign to our species.
