Flyer Than the Rest of Them

R.I.P. Wingmen


It might just be me, but the art of the wingman is dead.


If you don't know what I'm talking about then you are lucky. You might still be in a situation where you have a good friend or three that no matter what the situation is will always be by your side in this war. In the words of "MVP" they will be there to "entertain a grenade, or defuse a bomb." If you don't know what that means, then I feel sorry for you. It's no secret that in a lot of groups, there is a eh not so attractive person in your eyes and most of the time there aren't enough good looking people to make everyone happy. A brief sidebar: I honestly believe that there's someone in their world for everyone, every person has their own unique beauty and things about them that someone will love someday. But pretty much what I'm saying is that the world seems to be shifting to a place where everyman is for himself, the selfless acts of wingmen, which long went unappreciated, has now seemed to diminish to disturbing levels.

Sure, in my current situation I have no real need for a wingman, I mean I have a girl who likes me and she's the primary person I hang out with....BUT what happens when I want to have a guys night out. I mean everyone sex needs a ladies night or guys night, you can't possibly always spend all your time with a guy or girl and exclude the friends that are the glue to your social happiness. But at what point did guys night out lose its special code. You know that unwritten book of "guy rules" the first one that usually states "bros before hoes." I'll tell you where it went, right into the trash can next to that used condom and the wrapper it came out of. Almost every time I try to have a guy's night out, it turns into a 5 man royal rumble where every guy is just out there trying to get some for himself. I mean don't get me wrong, every guy is usually out there trying to get some, but it used to be that getting some didn't have to come at the expense of your friends. I mean more often than not, you would take one for the team to help a friend out. You didn't even really need to ask for a wingman, one of your buddies would see the opportunity and just jump right in the role. The next morning you would all have a laugh about it and everyone would applaud the lad or lads who thanks to the help of their wingman, was able to seal the deal, whatever the deal was.

I mean in today's world, and this isn't just with my friends, I've observed it would complete strangers, guys will abandon you for anything. Cute girl or not, you are never supposed to leave a man behind, much less stranded behind enemy lines.

Maybe with age the art of wingmanning just dies. I would like to think that is not so. In 1502 days we often split up at points in the night, but it usually wasn't until we were sure each member knew what they were doing, where they were going, and who was accompanying them. In this big city world I live in now, those things are even more important, most of the time we head into the city with only one car, and almost always the driver is one of the one's trying to get it in the most. What ends up happening you ask? Well more often than not, that driver gets it in, but abandons his boys who rolled with him.

I've been thinking about how this happens, and the result is simple, there just isn't a way to replace the priceless friends and wingmen of your past. I mean its more than just talking to a girl when your boy is talking to another, a true wingman knows the moves of his boy, knows how to read when he's going to act and what situation he's in. He knows when to spark group conversation or activities, or when to give his boy some alone time. These are things that come when people hang out a lot and are actually friends. Acquaintances make terrible wingmen, they just aren't cut out to be there when the going gets tough. Moral of the story, I'm going to miss the 1502 way of life. I mean every member had their own way of doing things sure, but as a unit we were unstoppable. Here is Baltimore, there is no true wingmen that i've seen. Maybe city life is just more tough with more competition so people are used to fighting for themselves. But whatever the case may be, I don't like it, not one bit.

So to all my friends of 1502, I miss you guys, for a million reasons, but most of all because we were a family. Despite the disputes or arguments or lack of cleaning, we understood each other, we were always there for each other, and that we won't find somewhere else easily. On the same note, I hope that you guys have people in your lives now that are true wingmen and women, because as I've discovered, I am lacking that.

Can't wait to the reunion times where we can all just mesh again and be merry while enjoying two eggs over medium, hash browns, sausage, and wheat toast. And Cassie with her 1/2 cafe 1/2 coco.

To true Wingmen....Stay Thirsty....Stay Safe