Holy cow! It's been more than a month since I've written. Blame, I mean, thank, Lynn for reminding me this thing still exists.
It has been a somewhat insane month. Between going home, getting back, doing school, double shifts at work, and navigating having a life with all of this, I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I look forward to pulling an almost all-nighter, before yet another shift tomorrow and Friday mornings (I'm currently at work waiting for this shift to start). I have a presentation tomorrow night on a 20-page paper that I have yet to start (yes, I do know my topic and have done minimal research). I am trying to find time for friends here and for remembering to stay in touch with ones from home. I fell down the stairs and have a severely sprained ankle, which is causing my bad hip to yet again muck up.
And I am entirely grateful and thankful. Today is the day of a very intense and life-saving surgery for a young man who I graduated with from Mira Costa High School. Not too many days ago he was in a car accident. He was with three other people (including another old schoolmate, the Angels pitcher, and a young girl) - all three perished, but him. A young drunk driver hit them and then ran. He was caught. Jon has now a condition called "internal decapitation". Look it up on wikipedia - it's scary stuff. But he somehow lived and I am rooting for him to live a long and happy life, regardless of this injury. Regardless of what you may believe, I do have to admit to believing in something bigger than me and I do not know why he lives and why the others passed, but I have hope for him since he's made it this long and this far.
So I sit here with my mass amounts of work where I don't get paid much, my schooling that is putting me more in debt everyday, my sore ankle and hip, and I think how lucky I am that I have a job to go to (yes, I will continue to bitch, so deal with it), that I have a brain that is fully functional to find wonderful aspects of an otherwise inept program (I do like to learn, now we just need to find my fit to do so), and a working body (for the most part...).
So I'll limp around at work today chatting with folks because I can and I will. I'll stay up most of tonight before doing that again to write a paper that I know can be wonderful and I'll make sure it is so because I can. Because I'm lucky enough to have this ability today and now.
So think of Jon please, hope for him, and if it suits you, pray for him. He's a young man who's surrounded by love, but needs every good vibe we can give him.
Jon loves baseball - so here's to hoping for a home run.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Trials and Tribulations of Being Female: Shaving Legs
Hairy legs. For women, not the fashionable accessory to have. In fact, if these particular appendages are hairy, said women will likely be subjected to snickers, comments, and overall disgust. Unless, of course, you live in France. (Can't have a blog about leg hair without a dig on France - it's against the rules).
Yet, it is a total pain to shave. First there's the process: wet the legs, lather up the legs (must have the right soap to ensure no burning or bumps), run the razor over the long expanse, rinse off the razor, do the next strip, rinse off, repeat however many times, rinse off the legs, checking for missed spots or blood, if there's a missed spot, re-lather, re-shave and if there's blood, getting it to stop is always fun, dry legs, lotion legs, and then you're done. For all of two days. Longer than two or three days and then the itching starts. Then the prickly little black stubs show through and G-d forbid a man run his hands over your legs in this state or he's likely to run screaming from the room (unless he's married and knows better than to piss his wife off like that -- he might still be encouraged to sleep on the couch though).
I realize many men shave daily and I'm sure it can be a chore. But they are not required by societal boundaries to shave. If a man has hair on his face, he is not subjected to scorn, ridicule, and general disgust. Therefore, women have it worse.
What brings this up you ask? I will admit it. It has been longer than three days and I'm wearing short workout pants in public. That's right, the little black stubblies are showing through and I can only pray that they aren't a beacon to look at me. In perusing my legs as I sit at my computer at work, I began to think about how often we must shave, how quickly we go through razors, all of that fun stuff. Then I can only be happy that there are no men running their hands over my legs (granted I would probably say this anyways as who knows when my dad or Grandma decide they want to start reading this thing, but it's sadly enough true -- I mean, it's fabulously enough true...).
Now I love being a woman, but these little trials and tribulations always make life fun. So the next time your friend, wife, sister, mom, whoever is a little cranky, don't blame it on pms...
Blame it on hairy monkey legs.
Yet, it is a total pain to shave. First there's the process: wet the legs, lather up the legs (must have the right soap to ensure no burning or bumps), run the razor over the long expanse, rinse off the razor, do the next strip, rinse off, repeat however many times, rinse off the legs, checking for missed spots or blood, if there's a missed spot, re-lather, re-shave and if there's blood, getting it to stop is always fun, dry legs, lotion legs, and then you're done. For all of two days. Longer than two or three days and then the itching starts. Then the prickly little black stubs show through and G-d forbid a man run his hands over your legs in this state or he's likely to run screaming from the room (unless he's married and knows better than to piss his wife off like that -- he might still be encouraged to sleep on the couch though).
I realize many men shave daily and I'm sure it can be a chore. But they are not required by societal boundaries to shave. If a man has hair on his face, he is not subjected to scorn, ridicule, and general disgust. Therefore, women have it worse.
What brings this up you ask? I will admit it. It has been longer than three days and I'm wearing short workout pants in public. That's right, the little black stubblies are showing through and I can only pray that they aren't a beacon to look at me. In perusing my legs as I sit at my computer at work, I began to think about how often we must shave, how quickly we go through razors, all of that fun stuff. Then I can only be happy that there are no men running their hands over my legs (granted I would probably say this anyways as who knows when my dad or Grandma decide they want to start reading this thing, but it's sadly enough true -- I mean, it's fabulously enough true...).
Now I love being a woman, but these little trials and tribulations always make life fun. So the next time your friend, wife, sister, mom, whoever is a little cranky, don't blame it on pms...
Blame it on hairy monkey legs.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
In Memory: Zachary Michael Cruz
I didn't know Zachary. I knew of him, but I didn't know him.
I know his father. I met him in my Education class while I was at Cal. This young man was passionate about the things he was doing, always kind and supportive, wanting to do something to make his place in the world. I tend to be a bit cynical and think, when somebody sits here and says they want to change the world, that they might be a little delusional. I thought this was a young man that could make a difference. I was impressed by him, something I'm often not at first meeting.
He's 27 years old. And today... he's burying his five year old son. My heart just breaks for him. His son was killed crossing a street in Berkeley by a truck (yes, he was with adults at the time). As of this point, a tragic accident - the truck driver did not flee the scene, he was not speeding, he was not under the influence.
All I can think is that this little boy had this wonderful father (as I'm sure Frank was and is) and I'm sure he was just as bright and lively.
There are not words to express how sad I am for Frank and that I know whereever this child has gone onto, he was loved. And will always be remembered.
www.zacharymichaelcruz.com
I know his father. I met him in my Education class while I was at Cal. This young man was passionate about the things he was doing, always kind and supportive, wanting to do something to make his place in the world. I tend to be a bit cynical and think, when somebody sits here and says they want to change the world, that they might be a little delusional. I thought this was a young man that could make a difference. I was impressed by him, something I'm often not at first meeting.
He's 27 years old. And today... he's burying his five year old son. My heart just breaks for him. His son was killed crossing a street in Berkeley by a truck (yes, he was with adults at the time). As of this point, a tragic accident - the truck driver did not flee the scene, he was not speeding, he was not under the influence.
All I can think is that this little boy had this wonderful father (as I'm sure Frank was and is) and I'm sure he was just as bright and lively.
There are not words to express how sad I am for Frank and that I know whereever this child has gone onto, he was loved. And will always be remembered.
www.zacharymichaelcruz.com
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Eve of Justice
Recommendation - watch this first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csuNCukWCe8
On Thursday, there will hopefully be another unprecedented day in history. A day when the California Supreme Court votes to uphold the Constitution as I believe in it - one that protects minorities, one that does not take away fundamental freedoms, but gives them, one that gives the opportunities that some enjoy to all.
I speak of the day that the California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments regarding Proposition 8, which was passed this last election day. This country voted for change when they voted for Barack Obama, but took a giant step backward by passing this horrendous constitutional amendment. It was passed by a slight majority, but with its passing, came a great many consequences.
There is now a group of people who are maligned, who were given the opportunity to have something beautiful and have it ripped from them, who are treated by a Constitution as separate, other, different, and not of the state. It is a despicable travesty of what the Constitution stands for and what it SHOULD mean. The Constitution (herein referring to the California version) is supposed to stand for all people, it is supposed to fight for all people, and yet it fails miserably.
I am appalled that people are working against making all people equal, well, as equal as they can be as we all know this country remains mired in hatred and prejudice - but the law must stand for all peoples, it must make the first the first step to unite, to give freedom, to give hope. Instead of fighting against each other, these groups should be finding away to gain common ground. I've said it before and I will say it again: make a new plan for the state. In the eyes of the state, everybody has a civil union (i.e. all the current benefits of marriage are now awarded to civil unions) and put marriage back where it came from - in the church. It is a construction of the church and can remain there - then it is up to the pastors/priests/dude or dudette in charge whether they want to marry a couple (since churches get exempt from everything anyways...).
I digress. Go to this web site:
http://eveofjustice.com/
and learn how you can help. How you can make a difference. If anything, take the time to learn. See what the briefs have to say, open your minds and your hearts and realize that we all deserve the chance at something special. Take a moment to realize that you do not have to perpetuate hatred and prejudice, that you can make a difference by standing for the minorities, the maligned, and the hopeful.
Give this state (and country) a chance to truly "let freedom ring".
On Thursday, there will hopefully be another unprecedented day in history. A day when the California Supreme Court votes to uphold the Constitution as I believe in it - one that protects minorities, one that does not take away fundamental freedoms, but gives them, one that gives the opportunities that some enjoy to all.
I speak of the day that the California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments regarding Proposition 8, which was passed this last election day. This country voted for change when they voted for Barack Obama, but took a giant step backward by passing this horrendous constitutional amendment. It was passed by a slight majority, but with its passing, came a great many consequences.
There is now a group of people who are maligned, who were given the opportunity to have something beautiful and have it ripped from them, who are treated by a Constitution as separate, other, different, and not of the state. It is a despicable travesty of what the Constitution stands for and what it SHOULD mean. The Constitution (herein referring to the California version) is supposed to stand for all people, it is supposed to fight for all people, and yet it fails miserably.
I am appalled that people are working against making all people equal, well, as equal as they can be as we all know this country remains mired in hatred and prejudice - but the law must stand for all peoples, it must make the first the first step to unite, to give freedom, to give hope. Instead of fighting against each other, these groups should be finding away to gain common ground. I've said it before and I will say it again: make a new plan for the state. In the eyes of the state, everybody has a civil union (i.e. all the current benefits of marriage are now awarded to civil unions) and put marriage back where it came from - in the church. It is a construction of the church and can remain there - then it is up to the pastors/priests/dude or dudette in charge whether they want to marry a couple (since churches get exempt from everything anyways...).
I digress. Go to this web site:
http://eveofjustice.com/
and learn how you can help. How you can make a difference. If anything, take the time to learn. See what the briefs have to say, open your minds and your hearts and realize that we all deserve the chance at something special. Take a moment to realize that you do not have to perpetuate hatred and prejudice, that you can make a difference by standing for the minorities, the maligned, and the hopeful.
Give this state (and country) a chance to truly "let freedom ring".
Friday, February 27, 2009
Hollywood as a Standard of Beauty
It is a joke.
This standard of beauty: to be tall(ish at the very least), thin (actually, emaciated), over-processed hair, whiter than paper teeth that are perfectly straight, with at least 20 botox treatments under their belt (okay, I may exaggerate just a tad...). Regardless, this is a basic overview of what the Hollywood standard of beauty is and it is shown in most Hollywood stars.
This standard is absolutely unhealthy, not to mention unobtainable to those who have no money for trainers, nutritionists, and stylists. Yet... why do we, as a society, continue to play into this notion of beauty?!
First off, it must be said. I personally find this notion of beauty butt-ugly. Now that that has been said...
Over the past few weeks there has been a bru-ha-ha over Jessica Simpson gaining weight. The first picture of her with this weight gain appeared weeks ago and yet, it is still somehow relevant? I was watching CNN this morning and the outgoing Miss America, Kristin Haglund, appeared on the show. She was the first Miss America to make eating disorders her platform and appeared on the show to discuss eating disorders and Jessica Simpson - well, as much as she can discuss in the all of seven minutes they gave her (just to note, she was quite well-spoken, I was most impressed), which simply ticked me off all over again about the issue. I haven't bought a trash mag since this nuttiness because I was so annoyed by such negative coverage.
When I look at these pictures of Jessica Simpson, I still see a healthy woman. She's, what, a size 4? 6? Oh wow, obesity clinics around the country should be calling her. I mean, what is this?! She's the epitome of a normal, healthy woman - hell, even "skinny" based on the national average of 12-14 (don't quote me, it's been a while since I looked up that statistic). So how is it that she is fat? And why is it that we all play into this disgusting standard of beauty that is not reasonable or healthy? We should be taking pride in what the body can do and pushing to be as healthy as possible for your lifestyle and interests, not judging or being overly critical.
Upshot is? My new thesis will involve this bs standard of beauty. How? You'll be finding out when the sucker is written - guess you'll just have to wait and see!
This standard of beauty: to be tall(ish at the very least), thin (actually, emaciated), over-processed hair, whiter than paper teeth that are perfectly straight, with at least 20 botox treatments under their belt (okay, I may exaggerate just a tad...). Regardless, this is a basic overview of what the Hollywood standard of beauty is and it is shown in most Hollywood stars.
This standard is absolutely unhealthy, not to mention unobtainable to those who have no money for trainers, nutritionists, and stylists. Yet... why do we, as a society, continue to play into this notion of beauty?!
First off, it must be said. I personally find this notion of beauty butt-ugly. Now that that has been said...
Over the past few weeks there has been a bru-ha-ha over Jessica Simpson gaining weight. The first picture of her with this weight gain appeared weeks ago and yet, it is still somehow relevant? I was watching CNN this morning and the outgoing Miss America, Kristin Haglund, appeared on the show. She was the first Miss America to make eating disorders her platform and appeared on the show to discuss eating disorders and Jessica Simpson - well, as much as she can discuss in the all of seven minutes they gave her (just to note, she was quite well-spoken, I was most impressed), which simply ticked me off all over again about the issue. I haven't bought a trash mag since this nuttiness because I was so annoyed by such negative coverage.
When I look at these pictures of Jessica Simpson, I still see a healthy woman. She's, what, a size 4? 6? Oh wow, obesity clinics around the country should be calling her. I mean, what is this?! She's the epitome of a normal, healthy woman - hell, even "skinny" based on the national average of 12-14 (don't quote me, it's been a while since I looked up that statistic). So how is it that she is fat? And why is it that we all play into this disgusting standard of beauty that is not reasonable or healthy? We should be taking pride in what the body can do and pushing to be as healthy as possible for your lifestyle and interests, not judging or being overly critical.
Upshot is? My new thesis will involve this bs standard of beauty. How? You'll be finding out when the sucker is written - guess you'll just have to wait and see!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A Trip Home
I took a weekend trip home. A weekend trip that turned into 6 days, including travel days (i.e. part day on the trip to CA and a full day on the trip back to DC - don't you love how that works out?!).
I took this random trip home because I had a random moment of homesickness. About two days after booking the flight (two weeks before the weekend might I add), I lost that homesickness and was wondering why in the world I'm still taking this trip. Maybe I should just just cancel the flight and save the $220 for a future flight (can you believe it was that cheap?! I spent near enough to that just getting to Nor-Cal back in the day). But... I went home.
And loved every minute of it. I reconnected with a ton of people and was reminded of what I like about LA (don't get me wrong... there's still much of LA that can just finish going to the rats). I enjoyed it enough that I will most likely be applying to UCLA this year.
I flew in Thursday and got picked up by Sena. We went and picked out what shoes I'll be wearing for her wedding, then had lunch. It was great getting the chance to catch up in person and see how things are going. I then got to go shopping with Dad for his renewal of vows shirt. Him being male means that it really didn't take us all that long, so we managed to have a drink and an artichoke while waiting for mom for dinner.
Friday held a real exciting day - I had a doctor's appointment! Whoo! Or not? One thing DC has done for me is taught me to get off my lazy ass. Back in the day I parked in the lot and just paid for parking. Not anymore. I found street parking and hoofed it in. I'll have to keep this up in the future. But Friday night was a very enjoyable evening out. Lauren and I ended up at Hennessy's with Shelley, Lynn, Dan, and Eric joining the party. Shells and I got the brilliant idea that the next time I come home we're going to have an 80's prom - the pictures alone (and the boys dressing like dorks) will be totally worth it.
Saturday was another incredibly full day, more full than I had anticipated, but super fun. I saw my godmother for breakfast, hung with Mikey for a good chunk of the day, then came the evening.
Yes, the evening gets its own paragraph. A crew of us went to Daikokuya (if I spelled that right, then I'm a Goddess... just sayin'). I picked up Shelley, Beverly, and Nick and we set off on our adventure. Yes, adventure. As Nick and I had a bit of trouble navigating (are we surprised?!), we were off and on freeways and turning around more than once or twice. Whoops. Dinner was quite fun and yummy (thanks for the tip Adam!) and then... the salami experience. Adam and Joanne walk to Adam's car -- the plan is that I'll follow them to drop off Joanne, then go see Rocky Horror at midnight in Pasadena with Adam. I get in the car. I look down at the passenger seat and see on the floor of the passenger side a roll of dry salami. That's right. This big ol' hunk of meat that was soooooo not there before. I immediately twist around to see if there's somebody hiding in my backseat -- about two seconds away from diving bombing out of my car and running helter skelter. I lock the doors, pull out after determining that some crazy person isn't out to kill me, then start following Adam (no, they have no clue what's going on). I call Nick, who has no clue what I'm talking about when I ask him if it's his salami (yes, start the dirty jokes now). Then I call home.
It was my dad's salami. No joke.
Rocky Horror was a treat. I got to hang out in the lighting section! I got to hang with Adam... wait... does this deserve an exclamation point too? I kid, I kid! I've seen the midnight showing of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, but not The Rocky Horror Picture Show, so it was definitely an experience. Getting to drive fast in LA was also definitely an experience. If you go 20 mph over the limit here, you risk getting arrested and for sure a misdemeanor. Clearly, I've learned how to get my dang foot off the gas. But not if I don't have to!!!
Sunday proved to be a day for the ages. I took my folks to the airport (yes, I took THEM to the airport, not the other way around... mama's a little confused these days apparently and forgot what weekend they were going to Vegas... dad was right... which is infrequent at best, so he was quite pleased with himself on this one). I hung with Lauren, did the grocery shopping for my dinner party that night and then home to get some stuff done.
More people showed up than I expected. People stayed way later than I expected - the last leaving around 1:30am. Christina made amazing porkchops and I made crack sangria (Eric's name for it as it was... strong... to say the least). It was an enjoyable evening with random moments of, "what just happened there?!" and other moments of, "when do we start asking questions?" Upshot was: I wasn't going to be making my flight in the morning. So I changed my flight at 3:30am and slept in. Dinner with Christina was yummy (Mama D's tortellini in pink sauce... mmmm... I want more!). Leaving dinner, there's this middle-aged couple that looks vaguely familiar. I figure I must be nuts, but the guy stops me. I'm thinking he'll tell me who he is... not so much. He said that I looked very pretty that night, very classy and his wife just smiled and nodded. I decided not to try to figure out what was going on and just said thanks and ran. No make-up and my hair in a sloppy bun and I look CLASSY? Since when? Geeez.
I caught my flight Tuesday. I missed one class of each of my classes. Guess I can't be sick for the rest of the semester!
I'm working a double shift today and seven shifts over the next two weeks (as opposed to four).
Why did I come back?!
I took this random trip home because I had a random moment of homesickness. About two days after booking the flight (two weeks before the weekend might I add), I lost that homesickness and was wondering why in the world I'm still taking this trip. Maybe I should just just cancel the flight and save the $220 for a future flight (can you believe it was that cheap?! I spent near enough to that just getting to Nor-Cal back in the day). But... I went home.
And loved every minute of it. I reconnected with a ton of people and was reminded of what I like about LA (don't get me wrong... there's still much of LA that can just finish going to the rats). I enjoyed it enough that I will most likely be applying to UCLA this year.
I flew in Thursday and got picked up by Sena. We went and picked out what shoes I'll be wearing for her wedding, then had lunch. It was great getting the chance to catch up in person and see how things are going. I then got to go shopping with Dad for his renewal of vows shirt. Him being male means that it really didn't take us all that long, so we managed to have a drink and an artichoke while waiting for mom for dinner.
Friday held a real exciting day - I had a doctor's appointment! Whoo! Or not? One thing DC has done for me is taught me to get off my lazy ass. Back in the day I parked in the lot and just paid for parking. Not anymore. I found street parking and hoofed it in. I'll have to keep this up in the future. But Friday night was a very enjoyable evening out. Lauren and I ended up at Hennessy's with Shelley, Lynn, Dan, and Eric joining the party. Shells and I got the brilliant idea that the next time I come home we're going to have an 80's prom - the pictures alone (and the boys dressing like dorks) will be totally worth it.
Saturday was another incredibly full day, more full than I had anticipated, but super fun. I saw my godmother for breakfast, hung with Mikey for a good chunk of the day, then came the evening.
Yes, the evening gets its own paragraph. A crew of us went to Daikokuya (if I spelled that right, then I'm a Goddess... just sayin'). I picked up Shelley, Beverly, and Nick and we set off on our adventure. Yes, adventure. As Nick and I had a bit of trouble navigating (are we surprised?!), we were off and on freeways and turning around more than once or twice. Whoops. Dinner was quite fun and yummy (thanks for the tip Adam!) and then... the salami experience. Adam and Joanne walk to Adam's car -- the plan is that I'll follow them to drop off Joanne, then go see Rocky Horror at midnight in Pasadena with Adam. I get in the car. I look down at the passenger seat and see on the floor of the passenger side a roll of dry salami. That's right. This big ol' hunk of meat that was soooooo not there before. I immediately twist around to see if there's somebody hiding in my backseat -- about two seconds away from diving bombing out of my car and running helter skelter. I lock the doors, pull out after determining that some crazy person isn't out to kill me, then start following Adam (no, they have no clue what's going on). I call Nick, who has no clue what I'm talking about when I ask him if it's his salami (yes, start the dirty jokes now). Then I call home.
It was my dad's salami. No joke.
Rocky Horror was a treat. I got to hang out in the lighting section! I got to hang with Adam... wait... does this deserve an exclamation point too? I kid, I kid! I've seen the midnight showing of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, but not The Rocky Horror Picture Show, so it was definitely an experience. Getting to drive fast in LA was also definitely an experience. If you go 20 mph over the limit here, you risk getting arrested and for sure a misdemeanor. Clearly, I've learned how to get my dang foot off the gas. But not if I don't have to!!!
Sunday proved to be a day for the ages. I took my folks to the airport (yes, I took THEM to the airport, not the other way around... mama's a little confused these days apparently and forgot what weekend they were going to Vegas... dad was right... which is infrequent at best, so he was quite pleased with himself on this one). I hung with Lauren, did the grocery shopping for my dinner party that night and then home to get some stuff done.
More people showed up than I expected. People stayed way later than I expected - the last leaving around 1:30am. Christina made amazing porkchops and I made crack sangria (Eric's name for it as it was... strong... to say the least). It was an enjoyable evening with random moments of, "what just happened there?!" and other moments of, "when do we start asking questions?" Upshot was: I wasn't going to be making my flight in the morning. So I changed my flight at 3:30am and slept in. Dinner with Christina was yummy (Mama D's tortellini in pink sauce... mmmm... I want more!). Leaving dinner, there's this middle-aged couple that looks vaguely familiar. I figure I must be nuts, but the guy stops me. I'm thinking he'll tell me who he is... not so much. He said that I looked very pretty that night, very classy and his wife just smiled and nodded. I decided not to try to figure out what was going on and just said thanks and ran. No make-up and my hair in a sloppy bun and I look CLASSY? Since when? Geeez.
I caught my flight Tuesday. I missed one class of each of my classes. Guess I can't be sick for the rest of the semester!
I'm working a double shift today and seven shifts over the next two weeks (as opposed to four).
Why did I come back?!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
High School Friendships
I was watching this show this morning while munching on my bagel and fruit that was centered around three gals who were high school best friends, but who lost touch almost immediately after graduation. All three noted that losing touch was one of the greatest regrets of their lives.
This, of course, made me think about my own friendships and where they have come from, how they developed, and where they are at today. I have made many new wonderful friends in my post-collegiate career/schooling, as well as some interesting friendships during my collegiate career. But it was in middle school that I was first introduced to some of the women that I still call my best friends. And no, we're not talking "facebook friends" from high school that can be stalked through their pages and you pretend like you have a clue as to what they're up to, we're talking the real deal.
I suppose I do not often think how lucky I am that these people and I have remained friends, much less very good ones. I often see these wonderful people on trips home, and will always look forward to future times that I get to spend with them. The fact that we have remained friends for quite so many years is a feat in and of itself, seeing as how many of us went very different directions for college and then I ended up out here in the boonies (I kid!).
I'd like to take a moment to recognize these ladies, even if for a brief moment, only because I do realize how lucky I am and I don't want to take the friendships they have given me for granted. I have a very large personality and each of these people have accepted it, dealt with it, and made fun of it to their own liking. I'm going to do this reverse alphabetical, just to be funky.
Sena - We have incredibly different personalities, but have always found a way to appreciate the differences in each other and love them anyways. A constant support to me, it is an incredible honor to me to be able to serve as her Maid of Honor in her wedding this coming June.
Lauren - We have incredibly similar personalities, but have always found a way to fight and then make-up. It was at Lauren's house that I spent the day of my father's first kidney surgery (not the last of the surgeries certainly) and to this day, there is nowhere else I'd want to be if I couldn't be with my folks.
Christina - Christina and I ended up at middle school together, became very good friends in high school, ended up at Cal together, and now just may end up in DC together. I think she's following me around! Our appreciation for each others humor and hearts make for a fun and supportive friendship.
Now there are two people who may read this and think, "what about me?!" And those two people are Lynn and Shells - the wonder twins of MB. I purposefully did not include them in the list above because we have not been friends since middle school. We've been friends since Kindergarten. How insane is that?! I can even remember going to parties at their childhood home (which their parents still reside in). And if you all know me, you know I don't remember much! Both of these girls have their own strengths that they use to be supportive, cheerful, and a constant joy in people's lives. They have an incredible bond and when you get one, you get the other - a two for the price of one deal that can't be passed up! Although, I can't imagine why anybody would want to...
I am of the opinion that part of the reason why some of these friendships have remained so strong regardless of distance and time is that I have great role models. Both of my parents best friends they have had since 5 or 6 years old. I see my godmother (mom's best friend from Iowa) everytime I go home and I see my dad's best friend (Gary) and his fabulous wife (Sharon)... probably twice everytime I go home. Both of my folks have taken the time to cherish and nurture these friendships through good and bad - Gary always being at the hospital when my dad is there, being a support to my mom even moreso than my dad.
Such good friends that literally last a lifetime are hard to find and I hope to look back to this blog at 60 years old and still call the ladies mentioned here my friends.
This, of course, made me think about my own friendships and where they have come from, how they developed, and where they are at today. I have made many new wonderful friends in my post-collegiate career/schooling, as well as some interesting friendships during my collegiate career. But it was in middle school that I was first introduced to some of the women that I still call my best friends. And no, we're not talking "facebook friends" from high school that can be stalked through their pages and you pretend like you have a clue as to what they're up to, we're talking the real deal.
I suppose I do not often think how lucky I am that these people and I have remained friends, much less very good ones. I often see these wonderful people on trips home, and will always look forward to future times that I get to spend with them. The fact that we have remained friends for quite so many years is a feat in and of itself, seeing as how many of us went very different directions for college and then I ended up out here in the boonies (I kid!).
I'd like to take a moment to recognize these ladies, even if for a brief moment, only because I do realize how lucky I am and I don't want to take the friendships they have given me for granted. I have a very large personality and each of these people have accepted it, dealt with it, and made fun of it to their own liking. I'm going to do this reverse alphabetical, just to be funky.
Sena - We have incredibly different personalities, but have always found a way to appreciate the differences in each other and love them anyways. A constant support to me, it is an incredible honor to me to be able to serve as her Maid of Honor in her wedding this coming June.
Lauren - We have incredibly similar personalities, but have always found a way to fight and then make-up. It was at Lauren's house that I spent the day of my father's first kidney surgery (not the last of the surgeries certainly) and to this day, there is nowhere else I'd want to be if I couldn't be with my folks.
Christina - Christina and I ended up at middle school together, became very good friends in high school, ended up at Cal together, and now just may end up in DC together. I think she's following me around! Our appreciation for each others humor and hearts make for a fun and supportive friendship.
Now there are two people who may read this and think, "what about me?!" And those two people are Lynn and Shells - the wonder twins of MB. I purposefully did not include them in the list above because we have not been friends since middle school. We've been friends since Kindergarten. How insane is that?! I can even remember going to parties at their childhood home (which their parents still reside in). And if you all know me, you know I don't remember much! Both of these girls have their own strengths that they use to be supportive, cheerful, and a constant joy in people's lives. They have an incredible bond and when you get one, you get the other - a two for the price of one deal that can't be passed up! Although, I can't imagine why anybody would want to...
I am of the opinion that part of the reason why some of these friendships have remained so strong regardless of distance and time is that I have great role models. Both of my parents best friends they have had since 5 or 6 years old. I see my godmother (mom's best friend from Iowa) everytime I go home and I see my dad's best friend (Gary) and his fabulous wife (Sharon)... probably twice everytime I go home. Both of my folks have taken the time to cherish and nurture these friendships through good and bad - Gary always being at the hospital when my dad is there, being a support to my mom even moreso than my dad.
Such good friends that literally last a lifetime are hard to find and I hope to look back to this blog at 60 years old and still call the ladies mentioned here my friends.
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