"BFF" by Bodhi Smith

Sep 01, 2023

 
you're the star in my sky
no doubt the reason why
for all the things you do
you stand by me so true
 
with all the love you give
my god, you make me live
we're best friends for life
wish you could be my wife
 
in your brown eyes' gaze
i see forever and always
all night and every day
i love you in every way
 
i'll love you 'til the day i die
when as one we both fly
together to our heaven
exactly at eleven eleven
 
 
 
MY THOUGHTS
When I look into your eyes, and you look back into my eyes, there is no doubt, we are best friends forever. I love you with all my heart, all my soul, all of me. ― Bodhi, Best Friends Forever
 
BFF = Best Friends Forever…
 
Seldom do I ever do a self-portrait, but you now have here before you one of me and Besos...I had this night-time impression envisioned in my mind’s eye of me and my doggie at Corona Arch under the stars for quite a while before I ever finally created it…and on this night in the wilderness of Utah, we had a perfect night of stars, the Milky Way, and an appearance by the rising crescent moon, which made for literally a stellar night for me and him, truly Best Friends Forever…
 
After a hike in the dark under the beautiful canopy of glowing stars in the heavens above, this self-portrait impression captured itself in so many ways…it’s the culmination of a beautiful adventure together, between two souls protecting and looking out for one another, devoted in love to each other, no matter what, always and forever…happiest to just be anywhere the other one is at any given juncture of time and space, together two as one, Best Friends Forever…
 
You have my love until my last breath. There's just you, there's always been only you. I know, because something of this certainty comes but once in a lifetime! ― Bodhi, Best Friends Forever
 
Besos and I are in our element, where we love to be together--hiking out in the wilderness somewhere, away from crowds, machines, and civilization; seeing beautiful natural formations carved out by the forces of wind and water over time; witnessing a gorgeous crescent moon rise above red Navajo sandstone cliffs; experiencing the beautiful silence of an infinity of sparkling stars overhead, in a sky split by the illumination created from the luminous Milky Way...
 
Some things are destined and meant to be, there’s no need to try, or work for it…you simply find each other, and then life is just magical, every day, every moment, every breath…no need for any words to confirm, just eyes reflecting each other, the rhythm of synchronized heartbeats, and the body language of love between two souls…you are, and you always have been, Best Friends Forever…
 
What exactly is a Soulmate, or a Twin-Flame?  They're the deepest connection to our very essence of who we are and why we love. The reason for this connection cannot be described or explained, it can only be known with certainty...and what I know for certain is, that it's You ― Bodhi, Best Friends Forever
 
Moon’s out, sun’s shining
Perfect two, like me and you
Love’s silver lining
 
 
SOME BEAUTIFUL MUSIC ABOUT BEST FRIENDS
I cannot think of a better tune to accompany my blog and impression today--released 45 years ago way back in 1978, this song was the very first one to come to my mind after I finished editing this self-portrait image of me and Besos. And when I sing it to him, he knows exactly what I'm saying (after he's done howling from my singing, of course)  ...  "Thank You For Being A Friend" by Andrew Gold. ... (just click on the blue links to listen to any of the songs)

Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down a road and back again
Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant
I'm not ashamed to say, I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow
And if you threw a party, invited everyone you knew
Well, you would see the biggest gift would be from me
And the card attached would say: 
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend...
If it's a car you lack, I'd surely buy you a Cadillac
Whatever you need, any time of the day or night
I'm not ashamed to say, I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow
And when we both get older, with walking canes and hair of gray
Have no fear, even though it's hard to hear, 
I will stand real close and say:
Thank you for being a friend (I wanna thank you)
Let me tell you 'bout a friend (I wanna thank you)
Thank you for being a friend (I wanna thank you)...
And when we die and float away into the night, the Milky Way. 
You'll hear me call as we ascend, I'll see you there, then once again
Thank you for being a friend (I wanna thank you)
People, let me tell you 'bout a friend (I wanna thank you)
Thank you for being a friend (I wanna thank you)
Whoa, tell you 'bout a friend (let me thank you right now for being a friend)
Thank you for being a friend (I wanna tell you 'bout a pal and I'll tell you again)
Thank you for being a friend (I wanna thank you, thank you), Thank you for being a friend
― Andrew Gold, Thank You For Being A Friend.

and if you like to hear this song as an up-tempo modernized version, here is a pretty cool and unique cover by Rachel Platten off the My Little Pony soundtrack released in 2017 ...  "Thank You For Being A Friend" by Rachel Platten (Andrew Gold cover). 
 
 
Bass guitarist John Deacon of Queen wrote this song for his future wife, Veronica, whom he married in the same year this song was released in 1975 (and they've been married for 48 years now!)...this deeply beautiful tune is all about realizing how special a devoted friend truly is, and then discovering how you so deeply love them with all you are and ever will be...  "You're My Best Friend" by Queen. ... (just click on the blue links to listen to any of the songs)
 
Ooh, you make me live
Whatever this world can give to me
It's you, you're all I see
Ooh, you make me live now, honey
Ooh, you make me live
Oh, you're the best friend that I ever had
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine
And I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
(Ooh) Oh, you're my best friend
Ooh, you make me live
Ooh, I've been wandering 'round ('Round)
But still come back to you
(Ooh, still come back to you)
In rain or shine, you've stood by me, girl (Girl)
I'm happy at home
(happy at home)
You're my best friend
Ooh, you make me live
Whenever this world is cruel to me
I got you to help me forgive
Ooh, you make me live now, honey
Ooh, you make me live
Oh, you're the first one
When things turn out bad
You know I'll never be lonely
You're my only one
And I love the things
I really love the things that you do
Oh, you're my best friend (Oh)
Ooh, you make me live
(Live, live, live)
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend, oh
Oh, you're my best friend
Ooh, you make me live, ooh
Ooh, you're my best friend
 
 
Released ​nearly ​10 years ago in 2014, this next tune is all about appreciating and never taking your best friend for granted, because life is so much better when you are with your BFF ...  "Best Friend" by ​Jason Mraz. ... (just click on the blue links to listen to any of the songs)

Love is where this begins
Thank you for letting me in
I never had to pretend
You've always known who I am
And I know my life is better
Because you're a part of it
I know without you by my side
That I would be different
Thank you for all of your trust
Thank you for not giving up
Thank you for holding my hand
I've always known where I stand
'Cause I feel my life is better
So is the world we're living in
I'm thankful for the time I spent
With my best friend
You're my best friend
Thank you for calling me out
Thank you for waking me up
Thank you for breaking it down
Thank you for choosing us
Thank you for all you're about
Thank you for lifting me up
Thank you for keeping me grounded
And being here now
Now my life is better
Because you're a part of it
Yes, I know without you by my side
That I would be different
Yes, I feel my life is better
And so is the world we're livin' in
I'm thankful for the time I spent
With my best friend
You're my best friend
 
 
Released nearly 15 years ago in 2009, this song focuses on how the world comes to life when you have your best friend by your side, everything is alright, everything is better ...  "Gift of A Friend" by Demi Lovato. ... (just click on the blue links to listen to any of the songs)

Sometimes you think you'll be fine by yourself
Because a dream is a wish you make all alone
It's easy to feel like you don't need help
But it's harder to walk on your own
You'll change inside when you, realize
The world comes to life and everything's alright
From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side
That helps you to find the beauty of all
When you'll open your heart and believe in the gift of a friend
The gift of a friend
Someone who knows when you're lost and you're scared
They're there through the highs and the lows
Someone you can count on, someone who cares, beside you wherever you go
You'll change inside when you, realize
The world comes to life and everything's alright
From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side
That helps you to find the beauty of all
When you'll open your heart and believe in the gift of a friend...
And when the hope crashes down, shattering to the ground
You, you'll feel all alone when you don't know which way to go
And there's no such leading you on, you're not alone
The world comes to life and everything's alright
From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side
That helps you to find the beauty of all
When you'll open your heart and believe in
When you believe in, you can believe in, the gift from a friend
 
 
​This next song is all about how you can count on your best friend to always be there for you, because that's what friends are for...Released 38 years ago in 1985, it has a beautiful meaning that stands the test of time ...  "That's What Friends Are For" by Dion Warwick. ... (just click on the blue links to listen to any of the songs)

And I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you
And if I should ever go away
Well, then close your eyes and try
To feel the way we do today
And then if you can remember
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
Well, you came and opened me
And now there's so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you
Oh and then for the times when we're apart
Well, then close your eyes and know
These words are coming from my heart
And then if you can remember
Oh, keep smilin' and keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
Oh, that's what friends are for
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
'Cause I tell you that's what friends are for
For good times and for bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for (that's what friends are for, ya)
On me for sure (count on me for sure, count on me for sure)
That's what friends are for
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
 
 
This next song,I believe is yet another perfect accompaniment to connect music with the meaning of "Best Friends Forever" in my impression and blog today, as it's about that loving support we need for the special someone in our lives...I really love this updated cover version by a favorite beautiful voice, Florence Welsh, and her indie alternative band from Britain released in 2016... "Stand By Me" by Florence + The Machine (Ben E. King cover). ... (just click on any of the words in the powder blue links to listen to the tune and watch the video) ... 
 
And for those who would like to hear the original version from 1961, it's such a beautiful and amazing version too by the late great legendary Ben E. King: "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King (original). ... 
 
"when the night has come, and the land is dark, and the moon is the only light we'll see. no, i won't be afraid, oh, i won't be afraid just as long as you stand, stand by me. so darling, darling stand by me. oh, stand by me. oh, stand now, stand by me, stand by me...if the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall, or the mountain should crumble to the sea. i won't cry, i won't cry. no, i won't shed a tear just as long as you stand, stand by me. and darling, darling stand by me. oh, stand by me, oh, stand now. stand by me, stand by me. and darling, darling stand by me...whenever you're in trouble, won't you stand by me? oh, stand by me. oh, stand now, stand by me. and darling, darling stand by me. oh, stand by me. oh, stand now, stand by me" ― Florence + The Machine, Stand By Me (Ben E. King cover). 
 
 
 
A FEW MORE QUOTES ABOUT BEST FRIENDS
Love is patient, love is silent, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. it is not rude, it is not loud, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love is both the darkness and the light out of the darkness. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always forever perseveres ― Gautama Buddha
 
Close friends are truly life's treasures. sometimes they know us better than we know ourselves. with gentle honesty, they are there to guide and support us, to share our laughter and our tears. their presence reminds us that we are never really alone ― vincent van gogh
 
Home is not where you are from, it is where you belong. Some of us travel the whole world to find it. Others, find it in another soul ― Beau Taplin
 
You are my best friend as well as my lover, and I do not know which side of you I enjoy the most. I treasure each side, just as I have treasured our life together ― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook
 
Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. If you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything ― Muhammad Ali
 
My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me ― Henry Ford
 
When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, Damn, that was fun! ― Groucho Marx
 
A best friend is the only one that walks into your life when the world has walked out ― Shannon L. Alder
 
A good friend keeps your secrets for you. A best friend helps you keep your own secrets ― Lauren Oliver, Before I Fall
 
Life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend ― Sarah Dessen, Someone Like You
 
And when we die and float away into the night, the Milky Way, you'll hear me call as we ascend. I'll see you there, then once again. Thank you for being a friend (I wanna thank you) ― Andrew Gold, Thank You For Being A Friend.
 
I've been with you such a long time. You're my sunshine, and I want you to know that my feelings are true. I really love you. Ooh, you're my best friend. Ooh, you make me live ― Queen, You're My Best Friend.
 
The world comes to life and everything's alright, from beginning to end when you have a friend by your side that helps you to find the beauty of all ― Demi Lovato, Gift Of A Friend.
 
Well, you came and opened me, and now there's so much more I see. And so by the way I thank you. And then for the times when we're apart, well, then close your eyes and know these words are coming from my heart--Keep smilin' and keep shinin', knowing you can always count on me for sure, that's what friends are for ― Dion Warwick, That's What Friends Are For.
 
When the night has come, and the land is dark, and the moon is the only light we'll see. No, I won't be afraid, oh, I won't be afraid just as long as you stand, stand by me ― Ben E. King, Stand By Me.
 
"there can be so many differences between soulmates from age, background, location, or education that their union can seem impossible. yet there are so many eerie similarities woven through completely different lives in a myriad of ways that the pairing seems like the most natural thing in the world....there's a connection beyond all of the surface definitions, boxes and labels which permeates every layer of you. you hear the love song of your soulmate in a way which is impossible to describe and can be hard for others to understand. it’s a resonance never felt before with anyone....it’s like a homecoming to a place you were always looking for without ever realizing it...soulmate resonance is soul deep. it embraces the heart, body, mind and spirit of one another completely and fully; darkness, weirdness, magic and all" ― c. ara campbell (with modifications by bodhi)

I love my best friend neither with my heart nor with my mind...Just in case…Heart might stop. Mind can forget. I love them with my soul. Soul never stops or forgets ― Jalaluddin Rumi, Poems of Ecstasy and Longing
 
 
 
COUPLE MORE QUOTES FROM BODHI
Feeling this love between us flowing free, the only needed feeling, always forever, no matter what.  ― Bodhi, Always Forever
 
When we're together i'm the happiest, completely complete, our energy a connected connection  ― Bodhi, Always Forever
 
Mister Besos "Puppa" Halo Smith...born on July 3, 2018, he came into my world shortly after the Dude passed...and this little guy literally saved my life, I love him so much, and we have been devoted to each other, inseparable since I first held him in my arms and looked into his eyes on September 11, 2018" ― Bodhi & Besos
 
Us together, connected always forever, in love so lovingly. Is there anything better? ― Bodhi, Always Forever
 
Support in love, and love in support ― bodhi, kako'o
 
 
 
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TODAY'S IMPRESSION
Some things are destined and meant to be, there’s no need to try, or work for it…you simply find each other, and then life is just magical, every day, every moment, every breath...no need for any words to confirm, just eyes reflecting each other, the rhythm of synchronized heartbeats, and the body language of love between two souls... ― Bodhi, Best Friends Forever
 
Pictured here under the stars, the Milky Way, and a rising crescent moon is the gorgeously photogenic Corona Arch located close to Moab in eastern Utah...
 
It's a short fun hike out to the Arch from the trailhead (2.2miles roundtrip) which I have hiked numerous times in my life by myself, with The Dude, with clients, with friends, and now with Besos, my BFF...along the trail are also two others arches, Bowtie Arch and Pinto Arch (though these two are not nearly as large or as picturesque as Corona Arch)...
 
I had delivered a large framed piece of my artwork to a home up past Salt Lake City earlier in the day, and only had a window of one day to take this picture because I wanted to be in the Bisti Badlands in NE New Mexico for a star alignment the following night (seen in my impression released last week entitled, "Always Forever")...
 
So, I arrived at the trailhead a couple hours after sunset prepared to hike out to Corona Arch in the darkness. I decided I would need to shoot the stars first, a little past midnight, and then get the shot of me and Besos and the arch five hours afterwards just a little before sunrise. I got out and stretched my legs and opened up the back of my Jeep Grand Cherokee to get all my gear ready...and whammo, Besos and I were quickly swarmed upon by a plethora of mosquitos. 
 
The trailhead was right next to the Colorado River so they had all the water they needed to survive and breed. And the lights on my hatch and my tasty blood seemed to be attracting the hungry blood-suckers by the thousands. So I quickly shut off all the lights in my vehicle, climbed back inside, closed everything up, killed as many mosquitos as possible inside, and then applied bug spay as fast as I could...
 
When I got back outside, the bulk of the mosquitos had cleared out for redder pastures. I then packed my camera backpack with only the gear I needed for this shoot (which is still quite a bit), along with a first aid kit, roll of duct-tape--other than food and water, best thing you can ever carry on the trail, good for a multitude of emergency uses--headlamp, and food and water for both me and Besos...and off we go up the trail right around midnight...
 
Even though it's very easy, the hike becomes quite a bit more challenging in the pitch black of night, lit up only by the glow of the canopy of stars overhead and my headlamp on the trail. Even a well-defined trail is hard to find and follow without the sun illuminating the landscape. I usually rely on my GPS as a primary and my visuals as a secondary in these cases...
 
But on a good note, hiking at night is enormously cooler and only in the lower 70F in the wee-hours of the morning, at least 25F degrees cooler here than during the heat of a summer day that's pushing the century mark...much better temperatures for my doggie and me to be hiking in...
 
Although it's located only about a 12 mile drive from Moab, this is a wilderness. I'm alone with only Besos, on my own volition, my own recognizance. I'm our only backup, our only safety net. So I need to be sure of every step I take, especially extra cautious in the steep drop-off areas (one of which has steel ladders and a bolted chain to help you safely get up and down), especially so in the dark of the night...
 
We're writing our own happy ending, one word at a time ― Bodhi, BFF
 
We just took our time and we were careful as mice the whole mile out...only issue I had was the mosquitos--even-though they were not biting me, they were still annoying as shit, still buzzing me and flying in my nose and ears as I hiked (I did not bring my mosquito net for some stupid reason). The damned things would continue to be pesky right up until sunrise when Besos and would finally start the hike back to our Grand Cherokee...
 
Btw...to me, mosquitoes are the one species that could be eradicated and made extinct for all I care. To me, they have no useful existence on this planet other than to annoy, cause problems, and spread disease. I seriously would not feel any remorse, or in the least-bit badly if all mosquitoes were obliterated into complete and utter extinction...
 
When we arrived safely at Corona Arch at about 12:45am, I started setting up for the impression of the stars over the arch. I chose a longer focal length in order to compress the space between the arch and the sky, making the Milky Way look much larger in relation to the rest of the landscape. I set up my camera about 100 feet away from the spot where I was going to sit in the picture with Besos, framed the scene and took pictures of the stars over top of the arch...
 
Once I was done, it was about 1:15am. Besos and I had about 4 1/2 hours to kill before the light would be correct for the self-portrait of him and me under the arch...no worries, the Navaho sandstone is smooth, and makes for a nice place to sprawl out and look up at the beautiful glowing cosmos...and oh-my-god how beautiful the luminous heavens were on this summer night...
 
And oddly enough, the closer to the ground and the rocks, the less the mosquitoes were a bother...so, I laid there on my back with Besos in my arms, relaxing, stargazing, and napping for the next few hours in the magical radiant silence of the night. And in case you are wondering, yes, Besos looks up at the stars too...
 
When my alarm went off (set it just in case I really fell asleep, it was a long day of driving after all and I was tired), I got up. Then I turned on my Nikon D850, changed the camera settings, grabbed my remote shutter release and started taking different pictures of Besos under the arch, and then images of both he and I under the arch, and if you look clearly, you can see the remote shutter release in my left hand in the composition...
 
I had this idea for a self-portrait of me and Besos at this spot for quite some time, and had visualized exactly how I would like it to look. I rarely, if ever, do any self portraits of myself as a photographer, but there are a few I have envisioned in my mind's eye which I'd like to take in the next couple years, and this is one of them...
 
What's most important is sharing time with each other, anywhere together is where we both truly want to be, always forever, one together. ― Bodhi, Always Forever
 
 
 
SPECIFICS ABOUT THIS PHOTO
Always forever, no matter what―devotion and unconditional love flowing between us, as the infinite heavens smile knowingly above ― Bodhi, Always Forever
 
In order to create my vision, two separate exposures were merged and blended into creating this composition...

In my photography, I always use filters to create longer exposure effects, saturate colors naturally, and balance the light in my composition in-camera...I often use as many as four filters at time, and I always use at least one filter in my completed impressions...

And to get the effects and balance I was looking for in this composition, I used one ProgreyUSA Filter. along with the ProgreyUSA G-120Z Antarctic Magnetic Holder. to secure the filter to my Nikon D850 with a Nikon Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. ... 
 
Camera settings for Stars: 
July 11, 2023 at 1:11am MDT
f2.8@66mm for 11 seconds, ISO-5000
No filters were used because none were needed
 
Camera Settings for Self Portrait of Me and Besos under Corona Arch:
July 11, 2023 at 5:55am MDT about 9 minutes before sunrise
f8@66mm for 1/13th second, ISO-64
 
I wish to openly thank my sponsors who have always supported me through both the good and bad times...for truly this self portrait of me and Besos under the stars would not be possible without the use of my Induro PHQ3 Series 5-way Panhead with an Induro (now Benro) Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod. in combination with any number of  ProgreyUSA Filters. which I use with every photo I take...
 
contemplate without thinking. be certain only in your uncertainty, content to be completely incomplete. stop the rush. slow down time. breathe and notice. slow down everything. let it all be. shut off the noise. hush. relax. seize this higher moment. reconnect. feel and sense what surrounds you. listen to all the colours of light whisper as they envelope you. see the melody and harmony that float about unnoticed. taste the solitude of all this wonderment. smell the beautiful silence. now discover your peaceful serenity. then, reach out and touch your faith with all your senses. this is my world. awaken! ― bodhi, my world
 
you were blessed with 84,600 seconds today, have you used one of them to say thank you? ― bodhi, blessed
 
I leave you today wishing that bright joy 
and spiritual peace fill your life...
imploring you to make every moment count, 
no matter what, always and forever, 
for that is the only thing that truly matters... 
 
And above all else,
I hope this message and impression find you well.
 
Namaste,
Bodhi
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