CULTURE: BFFs The True Definition Unknown- Prince Sonoda Reporting...

It was late Tuesday the 17th of March 2009, the night ending the famed St Patrick’s Day.

As I sat in my living room, trying to contain my crazy inventory, I received a call from my dear friend Lanai who was at a Jax Streeter concert. I quickly jumped on the next TP and landed on top of the corner couch. Waiting for things to rez, I heard Lanai’s voice asking me if I was going to take a seat or stand on her head all night. I went into appearance to make sure that all my prims were accounted for. Seconds later, I was seated next to Lanai and enjoying Jax mesmerizing performance.

One of the great things about SL is that you can talk undisturbed in crowded room. Yes, IM is a beautiful thing.

During the course of the night, we talked about the SL Enquirer, the wonderful new staff that she has working with her now and the growth in readership for the greatest newspaper in Second Life.

We also talked about RL and how our week has been this far. Her company is so pleasurable.

I have met Lanai on the steps of the original Sinners Paradise. That was close to 2 years ago. I have a lot of love, respect and admiration for her. I call her “Lanai the Great”, since I truly believe that she is. Lanai is a friend who never asked for anything. She does include me in all of her project even if most time, all I ever do is tell her: “Great idea Lan” or “Mmmm! I wouldn’t particularly go that route if that were my choice”.

As the night progresses, we started talking about how long we have been friends and when she told me that in here, I was her BFF, I started laughing. You see, for me, BFF stood for Best Female Friend. As much as I live and breathe, I am 100 male, even if I am color coordinated, see my barber twice a month and have a massage therapist who gives me a facial, manicure and pedicure once a month.

Lanai explained to me that from her end, BFF means Best Friend Forever. That made me smile that she thought of me that way and especially coming from a friend who had a wall thicker than Fort Knox protecting her when we first met. We even met in RL and that was surreal. We are obviously the same people RL and SL, great friends here and there. If you have missed reading the article about how we met, it is still available. We both wrote our version of it.

We make friends here and some are closer that others. Some makes it impossible to ever think of logging in SL without them here. To find such a friend is a blessing.

If you do find such a friend, don’t ever let it go. That is the true meaning of a BFF or BMF, whichever way you choose to look at it.

Thank you Lanai.

Prince Sonoda

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CULTURE: My Definition of a BFF - Lanai Jarrico Reporting...

It is rapidly aproaching the 1 year mark from the day I met Prince Sonoda In RL. For those that don't know who he is. You are missing out on probubly one of the greatest people you will ever meet in Second Life. I just got the pleasure of meeting him in real life too and slapping the BFF label on em.

Just like in the Many Wizard of oz or Alice in wonderland portayals throughout movies and literature. Second Life is never what it seems and many times, the people here are just as odd or eccentric as the characters found in those children's book. I dont' feel like Alice or Dorathy as much as I do if I were the wierd offspring of a cowardly Lion ... scarecrow... the mad hatter or even the rabbit with a clock that just won't stop. Whatever hat I chose to wear, underneath I am who I am and so are my friends that walk along the yellowbrick road with me.

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CULTURE: My Meeting with Lanai the Great- Prince Sonoda Reporting...

It is not everyday that you get to meet a star but I did. I really did. I

took a trip close enough to where the CEO of the SL Enquirer lives and while

at a hotel in the next state, I decided that it would be fair game to meet

Lanai. I contacted her in game and told her that it would be neat if we

could meet. Surprisingly enough, she said yes. After requesting a full

police background check (Just kidding), she gave me directions to where we

would meet. Asking around, I found out that the drive would take about 2

hours to get there. I was not deterred. I rented a Ford Focus from one of

the few car rental companies around.

It was around 9:50am when I started my drive. I had no idea how to get

there since the directions that Lanai gave me started from the next state

over. So I drove, and droveŠ

And drove. 3 hours later, I was starting to think that I was never going to

make it. I would have given up if that were any other task. But I really

wanted to do this. Ever had one of those things that you must do at all

cost? This was one of those.

I finally stopped by a gas station on the interstate and asked for

directions. The lady behind the counter looked at me and smiled. Honey,

she said, you are lost. That, I knew, but by how far, I was not aware. She

took a map and an orange marker and pointing at a spot that looked like the

varicose veins behind the church lady¹s leg, she said: You are here.

Pointing wayyyy up on the map, she said: You need to be here. I felt

lightheaded when I heard that. I took my map and went back to the car. Sat

down and thought that since it has been 3 hours already, maybe I should get

back.

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