Joey Diaz shares a heartfelt and humorous story about the meaning of true friendship, recounting his experiences with a woman named Z, who was a close family friend and a major influence in his life. Z was a Cuban woman who had been friends with Joey's mother since they were young, and she took Joey under her wing after his mother's death. Joey describes Z as a tough, street-smart woman who was always there for him, even when he was struggling with his own demons.
As Joey recounts his story, he weaves in tales of his own struggles with addiction, his time in the comedy scene, and his run-ins with a producer who wronged him and his friends. Through it all, Joey emphasizes the importance of loyalty, honor, and standing up for one's friends, even when it's difficult.
The story takes a poignant turn when Joey reveals that he had lost touch with Z for several years, only to reconnect with her years later and learn that she had been struggling with her own problems. Joey feels guilty for not being there for Z when she needed him, but he ultimately finds redemption by standing up for his friend Marilyn at a memorial service and making amends with Z and his own past.
The story is a tribute to the power of true friendship and the impact that one person can have on another's life. Through his story, Joey shows that even in the darkest of times, the bonds of friendship can be a source of strength and inspiration.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator, Joey Diaz, knew a woman named Z who was a close friend of his mother's.
2. Z and Joey's mother met in Cuba and remained friends after moving to the US.
3. Joey's mother and father helped Z escape from an abusive marriage in Chicago.
4. Z became a successful cocaine dealer in New York City.
5. Joey would visit Z at her home, where she would give him money and sometimes do cocaine with him.
6. Joey's mother died, and Z helped arrange the funeral and was there to support Joey.
7. Z would visit Joey's mother's grave with him every Sunday, bringing a bottle of scotch and flowers.
8. Joey would do cocaine with Z during these visits.
9. Joey became addicted to cocaine and stopped visiting Z for five months.
10. When Joey finally called Z, he found out that she had been raided by the police and was in trouble.
11. Joey felt guilty for not being there for Z and for letting his mother down.
12. Joey got sober in 2007 and quit doing cocaine.
13. A comedian friend of Joey's died, and he attended the memorial service.
14. At the memorial service, Joey saw a producer who had wronged him and his friend in the past.
15. Joey became angry and threatened the producer, but he left before anything happened.
16. Joey felt like he had made peace with his past and with himself after standing up for his friend at the memorial service.