Imagine a store where you work. It's a GREAT store. It has all of the latest gadgets. You are so excited to work there. The customers are AMAZING. Every time they come in the door, they challenge you with really hard questions. When you are at the store, you feel like you are exactly in the place you are meant to be.
But there are a few issues with the store. Some of the other workers...well, they don't work so hard. They don't try to help the customers as much as they should or could, so the customers don't get the high-quality product that the store boasts about. Some of the workers don't seem to care much about the customers or the products. They kind of hide behind the canned good aisle until it's time to go home. They just want their paycheck so they can buy a six-pack of beer and get out of there.
Some other workers think they might be doing a good job, but they're not. They don't have the proper training. To the disservice of the customers, they have been hired for reasons other than their skills and qualifications. Some of them have been customers for a long time. Some of them just get along really well with the manager. Some of them have never done this kind of job before, and were asked to help customers right away without receiving proper training. Customers helped by these workers often leave the store confused and frustrated.
You would think the management would catch on to these issues, but they have issues, too. The assistant manager has been a manager of a different kind of store, but has never been a worker. He doesn't even know what a worker is supposed to do. When workers go to him with really big problems, he says things that he thinks will help, but they really don't. Sometimes what he has to say just makes the problems worse. Often times there is a big spill in the store, or something gets broken, or a customer is mad, but he doesn't know what to do. Sometimes the assistant manager tries to help a customer, but since he has never been a worker before, he doesn't have any idea how to help. When the good workers see this, they feel alone about the good job they are expected to do. Sometimes this assistant manager sees some workers working really hard, and other workers not really doing anything, and he treats them exactly the same. He might even make excuses for the bad worker, even though they know better and have enough training to do a really good job. Then the bad worker figures out that they can do not much of anything and not get into trouble, and the good worker wonders why they are working so hard at all.
Then, there's the manager. The manager really needs help. He thinks that everyone likes him and that he does a good job, but there are a lot of people who don't like the manager. Sometimes, when the manager talks to a worker in private, he says things to the worker that are lies. The manager thinks that the conversation is over, but the worker is really upset, and goes and tells his worker friends what happened. The other workers get mad at the manager for this. Pretty soon, there are a lot of workers going in to talk to the manager, and the manager is telling everyone something different, not knowing that all of the workers talk to each other and are very close. Although the manager doesn't realize it, he is making the workers very, very angry. When the manager calls a store meeting, he acts very happy and thinks that everyone believes what he is telling them. But the workers have seen enough from the manager to know that what he is telling them is probably not true.
Now the store doesn't feel like a safe place anymore. Instead of talking to each other and the customers about what a great place the store is, the workers talk about how unhappy they are there. They love the merchandise and they couldn't imagine life without the customers, but they are getting tired of working for managers who don't appreciate them and don't know what they are doing or what a really good store should look like. Even the customers are starting to notice that something isn't quite right. Workers who have been at the store for a long time and work very hard for the customers are frustrated. The manager never tells them they do a good job. The assistant manager does sometimes, but he doesn't really know what a "good job" is, so it doesn't really count. He tells all the workers they do a good job, whether they really do or not! That's kind of like comparing a high-quality product and a cheaply made product in the store and telling a customer that they are both exactly the same! No good worker would do that.
Can you imagine working in a store like this? Not me, but I certainly could imagine a store I would LOVE to work in....stay tuned!
HOLLA -
Friday, March 30, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Church by the Sea
In my dreams, we go to this church.
or maybe this one...
or this one...
or even this one.
And every Sunday, we all get dressed and walk barefoot, hand in hand, to church and say hello to our friends and worship with the breeze in our hair and sand in between our toes. And after church, all of the church members sit around big long tables with white tablecloths and give thanks and eat a delicious homemade lunch that we all had a hand in preparing. And then we spend the rest of the day swimming or flying kites or collecting sea shells.
Maybe this is what my heaven will be.
(can you tell I miss the ocean?????????)
HOLLA -
or maybe this one...
or this one...
or even this one.
And every Sunday, we all get dressed and walk barefoot, hand in hand, to church and say hello to our friends and worship with the breeze in our hair and sand in between our toes. And after church, all of the church members sit around big long tables with white tablecloths and give thanks and eat a delicious homemade lunch that we all had a hand in preparing. And then we spend the rest of the day swimming or flying kites or collecting sea shells.
Maybe this is what my heaven will be.
(can you tell I miss the ocean?????????)
HOLLA -
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Happiness Is...
A big a$$ cookie, lovingly baked by my husband. We waited FOUR DAYS to eat this mamma jamma because we didn't have any ice cream, and that's how long it took us to get to the store and buy some. (It was totally worth it.)
Not killing this plant. Ben gave it up for adoption a few months ago, and I took it in as my own, letting it sit on top of the kitchen cabinet, abandoned, until it was taking its last breath. It needs a bigger pot, and yet there it sits, suffocating. "Tomorrow, tomorrow, if you don't put me in a new pot tomorrow I am going to take my little leaf hands and strangle you" it sings. If I took care of my child like I am taking care of this plant, DFS would have been called a very long time ago.
A lovely surprise. Last week I got a text from my bestie Carrie. "I am leaving a surprise on your porch" it said. And when I got home from work? Voila! A Musical Chair! Who just up and buys a music chair for no reason and leaves it on your porch while you are at work, you ask? Best friends, of course.
Cheerwine. This is really Ben's happiness, not mine. Word got around that his favorite drink from out East was being sold at Cracker Barrel. I describe this drink as a combo between a Cherry Coke and a Dr. Pepper. Cheerwine+Ben=Happiness.
Waking up to this face every day. Being a parent is such a freaking conundrum. Some days I feel like a failure, struggling to know what to do and how to give Amelia everything she needs, and other days I feel like I am standing on the winning podium of parenthood, waving and holding up my little Amelia trophy like I'm on top of the world. The past few days have been trophy days, and my heart is bursting with pride and love. I mean, come on! Look at her! Can you blame me!?!?!?!?
Watching milestones. This week, Little Miss has climbed to the top of the stairs, crawled on her hands and knees, learned how to put her arms up to say "SO BIG", given a gazillion kisses ON DEMAND, and learned how to pull up on every single lick of furniture in our house. She is reaching for and seeing things she has never noticed before, which is trouble for us, but a whole new world for her. It is amazing to watch. Every day is something new, and I feel so blessed to be the mother of a child who is growing, learning, and thriving at such a healthy pace.
Spending St. Patty's Weekend with the Hepworths. We are meeting up with one of our favorite couples that we NEVER get to see this weekend for some fun and debauchery. Ben and I could sure use some carefree time together, and I KNOW these cats could...after all, they do live in Nebraska. Good times are guaranteed to be had.
HOLLA -
Friday, March 9, 2012
Occasions Worth Celebrating
Spring is coming...and that means many celebrations to be had - celebrations of life, love, benchmarks, and achievements.
This weekend, Ben's nephew Aiden is celebrating his 8th birthday. He is a bright, energetic, athletic, zestful, kind little guy with a sweet, sweet smile. Happy Birthday to you, Aiden! I hope your party will be full of fun and presents!
My friend Niki is getting married in a few months, and this weekend is a celebration of her upcoming nuptials. Niki is a wonderful, insightful, loyal friend who has watched many of us marry and have babies (and more babies). It's her turn now to be celebrated and wished a long life of happiness (and babies). I cannot wait to rejoice with her.
And someone ELSE is having a celebration soon. Can you guess who it is????
Ben and I are thinking we might let her out of her cage just long enough to party. We wouldn't want things to get dangerous for our guests...I'm sure you understand.
HOLLA -
This weekend, Ben's nephew Aiden is celebrating his 8th birthday. He is a bright, energetic, athletic, zestful, kind little guy with a sweet, sweet smile. Happy Birthday to you, Aiden! I hope your party will be full of fun and presents!
My friend Niki is getting married in a few months, and this weekend is a celebration of her upcoming nuptials. Niki is a wonderful, insightful, loyal friend who has watched many of us marry and have babies (and more babies). It's her turn now to be celebrated and wished a long life of happiness (and babies). I cannot wait to rejoice with her.
And someone ELSE is having a celebration soon. Can you guess who it is????
Ben and I are thinking we might let her out of her cage just long enough to party. We wouldn't want things to get dangerous for our guests...I'm sure you understand.
HOLLA -
Monday, March 5, 2012
Today
(timeline is approximate.)
4:30 a.m. - Wake up to pee. Hear Amelia crying. Go in to put her bink back in. Go sleep on the couch downstairs because Ben is making a weird noise.
7:00 - Wake up on the couch. Go upstairs to make sure Millie is okay. She is hanging out in her crib. Ben walks in behind me and takes Mills while he gets ready for work. I go downstairs and turn on the Today show.
7:30 - Ben leaves for work. Mills and I play on the floor with toys. I half play and half watch the today show. I am not in the "Mommy Zone". I pretend to be. It's not working.
8:00 - Fix baba for Millie. Watch Today show. Play some more. Millie is bored - she goes to play with the cords behind the stereo. I redirect her. Several times. I want to poke my eyes out.
9:00 - Breakfast. Cheerios, fruit, toast with yogurt for Mills. Breakfast bar and handful of Cheerios for me.
9:30 - I eye the clock for naptime. I am dragging this morning. Start thinking that all next week of Spring Break and my whole summer is going to be like this...playing monotonous toys and pretending to like it. Start to panic.
10:00 - Naptime for Amelia. A respite. Instead of taking a nap myself, I clean dishes, pick up toys, check my email, and shower for the day. Get pissed off because I can't figure out what to wear even though the biggest event of the day will be going to the grocery store.
11:30 - Millie wakes up. I get her dressed for the day in one of my favorite outfits - a "My Daddy Rocks" onesie with a guitar, and brown sweatpants. A doll baby. At least she looks cute.
12:00 - Fix a baba. Pack to go to Ben's office to visit him and his lady co-workers. Try to put Millie in the carseat, knowing she will get the baba when we get to Ben's office. Millie freaks out. Take Millie out of the carseat, feed her the baba, feel really guilty about trying to make her hold off to eat. Give her lots of guilt-induced love squeezes while she eats.
12:30 - Pull into Wendy's to grab lunch. Stomach is growwwwwling. Line is 10 cars long, at least. Pull out of Wendy's, ticked off, stomach still growling.
12:40 - Arrive at Ben's office. Drop my purse on the way in, feel fat and out of shape carrying Millie, my purse, and her diaper bag up two flights of stairs. Glad I wasn't also carrying a food bag and a drink.
12:45 - 1:00 - Visit with Ben and his co-workers, watch Millie roll on the floor and blow raspberries, laugh and feel soooo proud to be her mom.
1:10 - Pull back into Wendy's. Order a cheeseburger, fries, and a giant coke. Enjoy it like it's the best meal I've ever had all the way to the grocery store. Try to talk myself out of going to the grocery store because I just don't think I can handle it today. Give myself a pep talk in between bites of juicy cheeseburger.
1:30 - Get to grocery store. Laugh at Millie because she can't stand to be facing backwards in the cart, so she pulls one leg out of the hole and turns half way around, almost falling out. Do the rest of my grocery shopping holding her with one hand. Smile at the nice checkout lady who thinks my kid is adorable. She is right.
2:30 - Get home, unpack groceries. Give Millie a snack of oranges and Gerber tomato puff thingies. Play, play, play some more. My attitude is getting better.
3:00 - Take Amelia outside to feel the breeze. Put her in the grass. She loves it. I decide it's too cold and she needs her coat. Pick Mills up and take her inside.
3:02 - Put Millie's coat on. She cries. Grab blanket to sit on outside. Grab my phone and some bubbles I bought at the store. Go back outside.
3:04 - Set blanket out. Put Millie on blanket. She cries and tries to rip her coat off. Blow bubbles to distract her. Wind blows bubbles away so fast she doesn't even notice them.
3:05 - Take Mills, blanket and bubbles back inside. Take coat off. Millie still crying. Put hat on. Go back outside.
3:07 - Put Millie in the grass with no blanket and no coat. Millie screams and cries. I give up.
3:10 - Take her coat off, put her in high chair. Blow bubbles in the kitchen while Millie plays with toys. She barely notices.
4:00 - Feed Millie her afternoon baba. Read the Lee's Summit magazine together. Periodically give her kisses on the cheek. She periodically looks up at me with her tongue out, coaxing a kiss out of me, for the first time, ever. My brain takes a snapshot of one of the coolest moments of my life.
4:20 - Afternoon nap for Amelia. I clean up the wreck that is the living room and decide to take a little breather - read more of Anthony De Mello's One Minute Wisdom and my Mommy Mantra book. Fantastic. Take mental notes about blogging about both books this week.
5:30 - Decide I better get my butt up and start cooking dinner before Ben gets home. Ben gets home.
5:40 - Cook dinner - Spanish rice, mixed veggies, garlic toast.
6:00 - Talk to Ben about our days. Tell Ben I had a rough morning, but this afternoon Millie was giving me kisses and cracking me up in the grocery cart. Say a prayer of thanks that now there are four helping hands instead of two. My body begins to relax.
6:30 - Ben wakes Millie up. He brings her downstairs, and she reaches for me and rests her head on my shoulder while I hold her. My heart explodes with love, joy, and...relief. She doesn't hate me for being a crappy mom today. We eat all together at the table. She devours her rice and veggies. We marvel at her appetite and eating abilities and daydream about the future, talking about appropriate table manners for little people.
7:00 - Mills and I play while Ben cleans up dishes. My Mommy energy has somehow miraculously been restored. Thank you Jesus.
7:30 - Ben gives Mills a bath while I fold her laundry.
8:00 - Lotion, jammies, three books, night time baba. Have a sneaking suspicion that, because of her long afternoon nap, she will not want to go to sleep.
8:20 - I am at computer, Ben on phone, Mills still awake. I make executive decision to get her up and let her play for a little while longer. She's just not stinkin' tired enough.
8:20 - 9:00 - Play some more. I was right - she was not tired. My dad calls, I talk to him while Ben plays with Mills.
9:05 - Bedtime attempt #2. Attempt successful. I do a victory dance inside and congratulate myself for listening to my instincts.
9:15 - Computer again. Blogging.
9:59 - Get ready to hit "Publish" on blog, hear Amelia crying. Go in to roll her over and adjust her blankie. She rolls over and goes back to sleep. Cross my fingers it's for good.
10:01...
HOLLA -
4:30 a.m. - Wake up to pee. Hear Amelia crying. Go in to put her bink back in. Go sleep on the couch downstairs because Ben is making a weird noise.
7:00 - Wake up on the couch. Go upstairs to make sure Millie is okay. She is hanging out in her crib. Ben walks in behind me and takes Mills while he gets ready for work. I go downstairs and turn on the Today show.
7:30 - Ben leaves for work. Mills and I play on the floor with toys. I half play and half watch the today show. I am not in the "Mommy Zone". I pretend to be. It's not working.
8:00 - Fix baba for Millie. Watch Today show. Play some more. Millie is bored - she goes to play with the cords behind the stereo. I redirect her. Several times. I want to poke my eyes out.
9:00 - Breakfast. Cheerios, fruit, toast with yogurt for Mills. Breakfast bar and handful of Cheerios for me.
9:30 - I eye the clock for naptime. I am dragging this morning. Start thinking that all next week of Spring Break and my whole summer is going to be like this...playing monotonous toys and pretending to like it. Start to panic.
10:00 - Naptime for Amelia. A respite. Instead of taking a nap myself, I clean dishes, pick up toys, check my email, and shower for the day. Get pissed off because I can't figure out what to wear even though the biggest event of the day will be going to the grocery store.
11:30 - Millie wakes up. I get her dressed for the day in one of my favorite outfits - a "My Daddy Rocks" onesie with a guitar, and brown sweatpants. A doll baby. At least she looks cute.
12:00 - Fix a baba. Pack to go to Ben's office to visit him and his lady co-workers. Try to put Millie in the carseat, knowing she will get the baba when we get to Ben's office. Millie freaks out. Take Millie out of the carseat, feed her the baba, feel really guilty about trying to make her hold off to eat. Give her lots of guilt-induced love squeezes while she eats.
12:30 - Pull into Wendy's to grab lunch. Stomach is growwwwwling. Line is 10 cars long, at least. Pull out of Wendy's, ticked off, stomach still growling.
12:40 - Arrive at Ben's office. Drop my purse on the way in, feel fat and out of shape carrying Millie, my purse, and her diaper bag up two flights of stairs. Glad I wasn't also carrying a food bag and a drink.
12:45 - 1:00 - Visit with Ben and his co-workers, watch Millie roll on the floor and blow raspberries, laugh and feel soooo proud to be her mom.
1:10 - Pull back into Wendy's. Order a cheeseburger, fries, and a giant coke. Enjoy it like it's the best meal I've ever had all the way to the grocery store. Try to talk myself out of going to the grocery store because I just don't think I can handle it today. Give myself a pep talk in between bites of juicy cheeseburger.
1:30 - Get to grocery store. Laugh at Millie because she can't stand to be facing backwards in the cart, so she pulls one leg out of the hole and turns half way around, almost falling out. Do the rest of my grocery shopping holding her with one hand. Smile at the nice checkout lady who thinks my kid is adorable. She is right.
2:30 - Get home, unpack groceries. Give Millie a snack of oranges and Gerber tomato puff thingies. Play, play, play some more. My attitude is getting better.
3:00 - Take Amelia outside to feel the breeze. Put her in the grass. She loves it. I decide it's too cold and she needs her coat. Pick Mills up and take her inside.
3:02 - Put Millie's coat on. She cries. Grab blanket to sit on outside. Grab my phone and some bubbles I bought at the store. Go back outside.
3:04 - Set blanket out. Put Millie on blanket. She cries and tries to rip her coat off. Blow bubbles to distract her. Wind blows bubbles away so fast she doesn't even notice them.
3:05 - Take Mills, blanket and bubbles back inside. Take coat off. Millie still crying. Put hat on. Go back outside.
3:07 - Put Millie in the grass with no blanket and no coat. Millie screams and cries. I give up.
3:10 - Take her coat off, put her in high chair. Blow bubbles in the kitchen while Millie plays with toys. She barely notices.
4:00 - Feed Millie her afternoon baba. Read the Lee's Summit magazine together. Periodically give her kisses on the cheek. She periodically looks up at me with her tongue out, coaxing a kiss out of me, for the first time, ever. My brain takes a snapshot of one of the coolest moments of my life.
4:20 - Afternoon nap for Amelia. I clean up the wreck that is the living room and decide to take a little breather - read more of Anthony De Mello's One Minute Wisdom and my Mommy Mantra book. Fantastic. Take mental notes about blogging about both books this week.
5:30 - Decide I better get my butt up and start cooking dinner before Ben gets home. Ben gets home.
5:40 - Cook dinner - Spanish rice, mixed veggies, garlic toast.
6:00 - Talk to Ben about our days. Tell Ben I had a rough morning, but this afternoon Millie was giving me kisses and cracking me up in the grocery cart. Say a prayer of thanks that now there are four helping hands instead of two. My body begins to relax.
6:30 - Ben wakes Millie up. He brings her downstairs, and she reaches for me and rests her head on my shoulder while I hold her. My heart explodes with love, joy, and...relief. She doesn't hate me for being a crappy mom today. We eat all together at the table. She devours her rice and veggies. We marvel at her appetite and eating abilities and daydream about the future, talking about appropriate table manners for little people.
7:00 - Mills and I play while Ben cleans up dishes. My Mommy energy has somehow miraculously been restored. Thank you Jesus.
7:30 - Ben gives Mills a bath while I fold her laundry.
8:00 - Lotion, jammies, three books, night time baba. Have a sneaking suspicion that, because of her long afternoon nap, she will not want to go to sleep.
8:20 - I am at computer, Ben on phone, Mills still awake. I make executive decision to get her up and let her play for a little while longer. She's just not stinkin' tired enough.
8:20 - 9:00 - Play some more. I was right - she was not tired. My dad calls, I talk to him while Ben plays with Mills.
9:05 - Bedtime attempt #2. Attempt successful. I do a victory dance inside and congratulate myself for listening to my instincts.
9:15 - Computer again. Blogging.
9:59 - Get ready to hit "Publish" on blog, hear Amelia crying. Go in to roll her over and adjust her blankie. She rolls over and goes back to sleep. Cross my fingers it's for good.
10:01...
HOLLA -
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
College Buddies
I have a good life. I get up, get my healthy body ready for work, kiss my wonderful husband and beautiful daughter goodbye, and drive to the school where I teach music. I have a wonderful family and a whole gaggle of people here who I love so much and who love me too.
But today, like most days, I miss my friends. My COLLEGE friends. You see, while I have many friends here in town, not ONE SINGLE ONE of my best college friends live here. NOT EVEN ONE. After college, everybody freaking spread to the four winds, and now none of us live close. None of us even live in the same state!!! How does this happen!?!?!?
When I think back to my undergrad years at Northwest, I realize that those were the best years of my life. I don't know how to say that without making it sound like "now" is not good. It IS good. Amazing. But nothing will ever compare to the four years I spent with these jokers.
Let's start with her.
This is Sarah. We call her SoCo. SoCo and I met our junior year of high school at music camp. We weren't really separated until we graduated. Not kidding. We took almost every single class together in school. We even shared a senior recital. I could not have made it through undergrad without her. I miss her smile and the way we understand each other SO well, because well, we were basically siamese twins. We once sang the entire Amy Grant Home for Christmas album together, completely a cappella. I don't know any other friends that can do that. She lives in Connecticut. Oh, and P.S. - that's her son Henry. He and Amelia are getting married someday. Done.
This is Skidney. He's really Syd, but Skidney to me. He and I became best friends right off the bat our freshman year when we both made the top choir at school. I pretty much lived in his dorm room, and we shared a history class that I will never forget. Snacks across the hall at the snack bar, and study sessions that I still have notes from because the comedy is so epic. We used to go to McDonald's together after Tower Choir practice when no one else wanted to go out to eat. This guy makes me laugh, bottom of the belly laugh, harder than anyone I know, except for my friend Michael Brown from high school. I miss the laughs and the jokes. We have inside jokes that would stretch from here to Hawaii. And they NEVER get old. He lives in Atlanta.
Oh, and her? That's Syd's wife, Abby. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding. Abby and I became friends after Syd and I did, but it's probably safe to say she took his place. Sorry, Skid. Abby is as true of a friend as you can have. We spent most of our college years getting to know each other, but now, I can definitely say that she is one of my best friends. We have had some life-altering talks in the middle of the night, sitting outside at her house in Denver or her dad's in Mexico, MO. How I miss her so. When it comes to Abby and me, it's all about putting aside the crap and getting down to the business of life...just the way I like it. :-) As you can probably deduct, she lives in Atlanta, too. (Bastards.)
Oh, the Larsons....Cam and Dave. Fricking Minnesotans. Cam is the most kind, caring, sweet person. But mix Cam with some drinks, some gay guys, and a hotel swimming pool, and you've got yourself some entertainment. This girl is flat out Ca-razy. I can't even believe some of the times we have had during and since college. Dave and Syd were friends in high school, and like a little lost sheep, he followed us all to Northwest. Dave is a supreme storyteller. He is one of the most entertaining people I've ever met. Ask him about his uncle sometime. Came and Dave live in a beautiful home on the river. In fricking Minnesota.
Maria. My Mary-a. She's the Mary to my Rhoda. She is my soul sister. Honest to God, our souls are connected in a way I will never understand. We even have a song. I would tell you about it, but you would think it was cheesy, and besides, it's just between us anyway. Once, when I was still at Northwest and Maria had graduated, I had severe stomach pains and had to come home from class. I called her, and she was having a crisis. I got sick because she was sick. Thousands of miles away. Enough said. She lives in Denver.
And lastly, my Elise. Elise and I became friends on Tower Choir tour to (the real)Mexico my freshman year. The next thing you know, her jerk boyfriend is apartment hunting for us (she kept the apartment longer than the boyfriend) and Elise is running upstairs telling Kurt (my future husband) that somebody at his party needed to move their car because we didn't have a parking spot. Thus begins a long line of twisted, beautiful, hilarious, messy tales that led us where we are today - best friends. When Kurt died, Elise drove up from Ole Miss just to be with me. She lived with me that summer, and has shown me the kind of loyalty and dedication that I can only hope to repay to her someday. My heart breaks every day because she's in Nebraska, kicking ass as an associate professor at a college, instead of here with me. She is my crack cocaine - I cannot live without her. I have been going through such serious withdrawals that I don't know what to do with myself besides call Elise and leave her really creepy messages about how much I miss her.
So, that's them. Not ALL of them, mind you, but this is the "core". Everybody made it in this picture from our wedding except for SoCo because well, I don't remember why she wasn't there and Elise was in New Zealand, which I still don't think was an excuse. And most days, I would give anything - ANYTHING - to be all together with them again. These people are the best of me, and they know me and love me better than just about anyone, besides my family and Ben, of course.
I miss my friends.
HOLLA -
But today, like most days, I miss my friends. My COLLEGE friends. You see, while I have many friends here in town, not ONE SINGLE ONE of my best college friends live here. NOT EVEN ONE. After college, everybody freaking spread to the four winds, and now none of us live close. None of us even live in the same state!!! How does this happen!?!?!?
When I think back to my undergrad years at Northwest, I realize that those were the best years of my life. I don't know how to say that without making it sound like "now" is not good. It IS good. Amazing. But nothing will ever compare to the four years I spent with these jokers.
Let's start with her.
This is Sarah. We call her SoCo. SoCo and I met our junior year of high school at music camp. We weren't really separated until we graduated. Not kidding. We took almost every single class together in school. We even shared a senior recital. I could not have made it through undergrad without her. I miss her smile and the way we understand each other SO well, because well, we were basically siamese twins. We once sang the entire Amy Grant Home for Christmas album together, completely a cappella. I don't know any other friends that can do that. She lives in Connecticut. Oh, and P.S. - that's her son Henry. He and Amelia are getting married someday. Done.
This is Skidney. He's really Syd, but Skidney to me. He and I became best friends right off the bat our freshman year when we both made the top choir at school. I pretty much lived in his dorm room, and we shared a history class that I will never forget. Snacks across the hall at the snack bar, and study sessions that I still have notes from because the comedy is so epic. We used to go to McDonald's together after Tower Choir practice when no one else wanted to go out to eat. This guy makes me laugh, bottom of the belly laugh, harder than anyone I know, except for my friend Michael Brown from high school. I miss the laughs and the jokes. We have inside jokes that would stretch from here to Hawaii. And they NEVER get old. He lives in Atlanta.
Oh, and her? That's Syd's wife, Abby. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding. Abby and I became friends after Syd and I did, but it's probably safe to say she took his place. Sorry, Skid. Abby is as true of a friend as you can have. We spent most of our college years getting to know each other, but now, I can definitely say that she is one of my best friends. We have had some life-altering talks in the middle of the night, sitting outside at her house in Denver or her dad's in Mexico, MO. How I miss her so. When it comes to Abby and me, it's all about putting aside the crap and getting down to the business of life...just the way I like it. :-) As you can probably deduct, she lives in Atlanta, too. (Bastards.)
Oh, the Larsons....Cam and Dave. Fricking Minnesotans. Cam is the most kind, caring, sweet person. But mix Cam with some drinks, some gay guys, and a hotel swimming pool, and you've got yourself some entertainment. This girl is flat out Ca-razy. I can't even believe some of the times we have had during and since college. Dave and Syd were friends in high school, and like a little lost sheep, he followed us all to Northwest. Dave is a supreme storyteller. He is one of the most entertaining people I've ever met. Ask him about his uncle sometime. Came and Dave live in a beautiful home on the river. In fricking Minnesota.
Maria. My Mary-a. She's the Mary to my Rhoda. She is my soul sister. Honest to God, our souls are connected in a way I will never understand. We even have a song. I would tell you about it, but you would think it was cheesy, and besides, it's just between us anyway. Once, when I was still at Northwest and Maria had graduated, I had severe stomach pains and had to come home from class. I called her, and she was having a crisis. I got sick because she was sick. Thousands of miles away. Enough said. She lives in Denver.
And lastly, my Elise. Elise and I became friends on Tower Choir tour to (the real)Mexico my freshman year. The next thing you know, her jerk boyfriend is apartment hunting for us (she kept the apartment longer than the boyfriend) and Elise is running upstairs telling Kurt (my future husband) that somebody at his party needed to move their car because we didn't have a parking spot. Thus begins a long line of twisted, beautiful, hilarious, messy tales that led us where we are today - best friends. When Kurt died, Elise drove up from Ole Miss just to be with me. She lived with me that summer, and has shown me the kind of loyalty and dedication that I can only hope to repay to her someday. My heart breaks every day because she's in Nebraska, kicking ass as an associate professor at a college, instead of here with me. She is my crack cocaine - I cannot live without her. I have been going through such serious withdrawals that I don't know what to do with myself besides call Elise and leave her really creepy messages about how much I miss her.
So, that's them. Not ALL of them, mind you, but this is the "core". Everybody made it in this picture from our wedding except for SoCo because well, I don't remember why she wasn't there and Elise was in New Zealand, which I still don't think was an excuse. And most days, I would give anything - ANYTHING - to be all together with them again. These people are the best of me, and they know me and love me better than just about anyone, besides my family and Ben, of course.
I miss my friends.
HOLLA -
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