He was my security blanket. Always there when I needed him. Some people smoke, other people drink, but my go to was a man.

From grade school friends to high-school boyfriend and quickly back to friends again, we traveled the whole spectrum of a boy girl relationship. He was my weakness.

As we passed into adulthood, fate brought another girl into his life.Our relationship remained unchanged for awhile,until one day it all came crashing down. They were expecting a baby.

Now that there was a child coming into the mix, I could no longer let myself continue to call on him when life threw lemons into my path. It was time to move on.

Although my decision had been made, it didn't fully sink in till I met his daughter. That night as I drove home from the hospital with tears pouring down my face I cried for the loss of a friend, a lover, a security blanket, and much more. I cried for things I couldn't even put into words. The grief that overtook me was shocking and scary but it was the push I needed to let go.

Meeting that beautiful baby girl was the start of a whole new life for me. Although we remain friends, I no longer call on him for everything. In a way, he was my cigarettes and my whiskey. Smokey and strong and always there to chase away the blues.

Listen very carefully,” Angelo the Enforcer vehemently demanded. “I’m going to tell you this once and once only. I am giving up my vice forever. I promise this on my mother’s grave.”

“You have more than one vice,” laughed Johnny the Snake. “Which one are you talking about?”

“Well, Sunday is the day that I take out the trash. By this, I mean getting rid of anyone who crosses me. On Monday, I usually play cards and win by cheating.”

“Continue,” urged Johnny the Snake, “you haven’t finished.”

Dark clouds crossed Angelo’s countenance as he pressed on with his admissions. “On Wednesday, I go to church but I lie to the priest during confession. On Thursday, I fight with my wife and go out drinking with the other boys – you know, Louie the Rat, Silent Eddie, and Tony Bologna.

Friday, I have my boys clean up any mess that the cops might find –bodies, bones, fingerprints, blood, you know!

“I just don’t know how I can decide which vice to give up,” he said, scratching his head in consternation.

A cunning grin took over Johnny the Snake's face as he said, “You conveniently forgot Saturday, you sly fox. What about Theresa? Why don’t you give her up?”

“Never ask a man to give up his whore,” snorted Angelo, “if you don’t want to

be wearing cement galoshes! I’ll give up going to church on Wednesday but I’ll never give up my Saturday night whore!”