Impromptu lunch

Xman man and I were busy during our two hour lunch break today! We went to see Mama Pa at the bank, picked up a few necessities at Target, spray paint at Home Depot, and had Chick-fil-a for lunch. Even though it was 2pm on a Tuesday CFA was packed. So when I saw a green jeep outside, I looked inside and saw Chonte'! So Xman and I had lunch with Chonte' who had Ben to a movie an didn't know what she was doing next ... (sorry I was day dreaming) ... And we headed back to swim lessons! A big thanks to everyone in line at CFA so that I had time to see I could sneak Ina quick lunch with a great friend!

Unexpected joy

I had a student who ended up pregnant late in her senior year if high school. I heard rumors and dismissed them, but kept hearing them, do I finally asked at the beginning of her first semester of college. She said yes, she was pregnant but didn't want to tell me because she was afraid I was be disappointed in her. As someone who struggled with infertility and knows the risk of waiting to long to start a family,, I offered her encouragement. I told her I would rather her have this unexpected joy than to ever know the disappointment of the possibility young not be able to have kids.

(I may have shared that part earlier, but what is next is new.)

So the same girl's best friend came to see me and when I mentioned the pregnant girl this student said "we haven't talked since the summer, the whole thing is disappointing.". I didn't push the subject, but it sounds like they are not linger friends because her friend is having a baby. I am so disappointed for the pregnant girl - it sucks having crappy friends. But I am looking forward to seeing that unexpected joy!

My Favorite Wedding of the Week

I have been to more weddings lately than I have in the past few years.  But last Saturday one of my very good friends, who I miss SO much, had the wedding that every wedding should be.  Congrats and thanks to Lisa & David!!  It always helps when you have friends there with you ...

We ran up to see Lisa before the wedding, and I broke the strap to her dress (straps were only added for the ceremony in the church) when I hugged her.  The reception was a short walk from the church.  There was an amazing snack table with things like gummy bears!!! There were plenty of beverages to go around, including Dr. Pepper!! They had a photo booth, they printed two copies of each strip of photos, one for us and one for Lisa & David.  Someone was taping the photos in and letting you write on the pages.  They weren't in the church forever after the wedding taking pictures.  The made the rounds and we were able to talk to them several times during the couple of hours that we stayed.  There were funny bits ....

And everything was beautiful ...

Old Friends

It is amazing to me to be able to go without seeing a friend for years at a time, but when you do see one another again, it is like time has not passed.

At this point, most of my friends that I socialize with on a regular basis are people I work with. We have lots of time and opportunity to plan gatherings, and similar schedules which help as well. We spend time together in the mornings, before the real day begins. We eat lunch together everyday. And afterwork when we are in need of conversations with other adult humans, we are often congregating in someone's room again. This is a lot of quality time and it doesn't even include the sporting events or getting together before or after them to eat and chat. I am very fortunate to work with an amazing group of people who I like so much that we even get together during the summer, or on weekends during the school year.

But today I am talking about the people it is harder for me to see. The friends from high school and college that I am still in contact with (thanks primarily to facebook), the friends that I never really lost contact with, but do not get to see often. I have friends that live my town, and we will run into each other at Target, Walmart or swim meets, but it is very difficult to seem to coordinate schedules to get together. And I have friends all over the country it seems, that when we talk on the phone, you might as well find the cell phone charger and call it a night, because it will be at least an hour and a half most of the time.

It is amazing to me that knowing people well (and sometimes for fairly short time spans) can result in these lasting connections that when you are together time has not really passed. There is no growing apart because you have such a strong shared history. And in most cases we didn't really have that much in common. I don't cross-country ski, or hike, or pee outside, or travel the world like many of my friends, but we have something stronger, we think I am awesome -- jk -- we share a similar sense of humor and somewhat similar view of life.

To all my friends, I love you. I hope you are happy, and I hope to see you soon.