There are times in your life when events force those around you to show their true colors. You find out that some people you think are your friends are not, while others rise up and are willing to take a bullet for you.
If I had made a list of the "bullet takers" before filing my discrimination lawsuit against NCDD, I would have been sadly mistaken. People I have known for years, some as long as 18, could not wait to throw me under the bus in their haste to defend NCDD. Their cult-like obsession with a pathetically flawed organization led them to paint me as a "villain" for exposing NCDD's discriminatory practices. Interesting.
On a brighter note, I have discovered who the true "bullet takers" are in my life. I have friends that have gone above and beyond in demonstrating their loyalty to me and I will forever be grateful to them. They have been patches of sunlight in an otherwise dark time. I am very lucky.
As a dear friend told me today - there's a lot to be said for gaining this knowledge.
So to all the bullet-takers in my life - and you know who you are - thank you.
Perhaps the character trait of "bullet taking" is more dependent on honor, loyalty and integrity, than it is on friendship. We always hope that our friends are people of honor, loyalty and integrity, but that may not always by the case. Thus, all of our friends are not necessarily "bullet takers". However, there will be people of honor, loyalty and integrity, somewhere, who look for bullets to take, and will be there to take a bullet for you, even if they are not already your friends, but soon will be.
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