In case you're not aware, my friend Diane and I have been pals since September of 1986. We have been through it all and have some great memories. Some of which we were recalling tonight over appetizers. At one point I grabbed my pen and notebook out of my purse and told her that our memories would be tonight's Top Five list. I'm not sure if it's cheating when you have a collaborator for Blogger Challenge...I hope not.
1. Shopping for Christmas Gifts on South Street.
Sophomore Year of high school, Diane and I went to South Street to do our Christmas shopping for our friends, including each other. While in Tower Records, I picked up a Smiths tape for myself and I believe she chose a Love and Rockets tape. Instead of just buying our own items, we decided they would be each others Christmas gifts so I paid for Love and Rockets and she paid for The Smiths. We exchanged bags outside and acted truly surprised at the contents of each bag and thanked each other profusely.
2. Making An Entrance.
Also Sophomore Year, we went to a high school party. We think it was Pat Duffy's birthday, but cannot be sure. We remember walking through the house and being told the party was in the basement. We both went to walk first down the flight of stairs and ended up falling on our butts and sliding down the entire staircase, right into the middle of the festivities. We still swear that the record screeched to a halt and everyone stared at us for a minute before going back into their conversations.
3. Mad Cow Disease.
In May of 1995, we took a trip to London together and ate just enough not to get alcohol poisoning. However, what we did eat was steak. And steak. And then there was the night we ordered steak. And just as we washed down the last bite, the Mad Cow Disease story broke. And for the following year or two whenever one of us got a hangnail, we were convinced it was the beginning of the end.
4. The Glow Bra.
Okay, this happened to a friend (who I will not name because I don't have permission), but Diane and I were there. On night we were at the club we always frequented...Revival. At one point on the dance floor a black light came on and our nameless friend was laughing that you could see a spec of white fuzz glowing here and there on our black clothing. And then we looked at our friend. Our friend whose white bra was glowing right through her black shirt for the whole world to see.
5. The Little Guy Under the Kitchen Table.
One night at a small gathering of friends, Diane and I may have drank too much. The group decided to play with a Ouija Board, but the oracle was missing. One of the guys said the oracle was in his car and I ran to go get it. I did, and ended up hooking up with said guy in the woods.
There was another boy there who was living in the basement of the house. Evidently he accessed it through a trap door in the floor under the kitchen table. Diane ended up hooking up with that guy.
After these hookups, we both separately wondered to a field behind the house we were hanging out in. We laid down together, side by side, under the stars.
"I just hooked up with [insert name here to protect the innocent]," I said, picking leaves out of my hair.
"I hooked up with the the little guy who lives under the kitchen table," she replied.
"Huh? He what?"
And that's when we may have have passed out cold.
Showing posts with label Friends of mine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends of mine. Show all posts
23 June 2011
31 October 2010
My Lost Voice
I caught a cold sometime around my 20-year high school reunion on October 16.
Like most of my colds, it settled in my chest and I had a horrific cough with led to the inevitable loss of voice.
Losing my voice is a nightmare. Instead of just keeping quiet, like a normal person, I continue to try and talk and sing and blah, blah, blah. So I end up sounding like Kathleen Turner for weeks.
On Thursday night I came home from work and proceeded to get ready to go to Philly to meet my dear friend, Sean. In town from Germany for a little while, we decided to meet up for a late dinner.
As I showered, got dressed and put on makeup, I put on a late 80's/early 90's playlist. Sean and Jennifer era-type songs. "Candy" by Iggy Pop played and darn it, didn't I try to sing the female part.
I got the first two words out and then my stinking voice cracked and disappeared. Foiled!
Sean and I went to a restaurant with his friend Chris whom he stays with while in town. It was a very cool place with yummy food and I felt pure bliss spending time with my friend. I never realize how much I miss Sean until I see him. Then I remember how awesome he is and then I hate Germany for taking him so far away.
At one point in the evening, "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure played in the restaurant. Sean and I, sitting across from each other, both looked at each other and smiled for a a second. Sean said to Chris, "This is a very Jenn and Sean song."
We proceeded to discuss The Cure. Then The Smiths. We agreed The Smiths were better than solo Morrissey and that Johnny Marr was the talent behind the operation.
As I spoke, I listened, with a full heart, to "Just Like Heaven".
A very Jenn and Sean song.
At the end of the night Sean walked me to my car.
"You have to come home," I told him.
"Didn't I tell you? I am."
I wanted to jump up and down, but let's face it, I'm old and could have broken a hip.
My dear friend is moving home next year. I am overjoyed.
A smooch and a hug later and I was driving home.
As much as I wanted to, I couldn't sing "Just Like Heaven".
My voice was gone.
But my friend was coming back. One of those few dear friends we make in life who can understand everything you're feeling even if you can't speak the words.
How lucky am I?
Like most of my colds, it settled in my chest and I had a horrific cough with led to the inevitable loss of voice.
Losing my voice is a nightmare. Instead of just keeping quiet, like a normal person, I continue to try and talk and sing and blah, blah, blah. So I end up sounding like Kathleen Turner for weeks.
On Thursday night I came home from work and proceeded to get ready to go to Philly to meet my dear friend, Sean. In town from Germany for a little while, we decided to meet up for a late dinner.
As I showered, got dressed and put on makeup, I put on a late 80's/early 90's playlist. Sean and Jennifer era-type songs. "Candy" by Iggy Pop played and darn it, didn't I try to sing the female part.
I got the first two words out and then my stinking voice cracked and disappeared. Foiled!
Sean and I went to a restaurant with his friend Chris whom he stays with while in town. It was a very cool place with yummy food and I felt pure bliss spending time with my friend. I never realize how much I miss Sean until I see him. Then I remember how awesome he is and then I hate Germany for taking him so far away.
At one point in the evening, "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure played in the restaurant. Sean and I, sitting across from each other, both looked at each other and smiled for a a second. Sean said to Chris, "This is a very Jenn and Sean song."
We proceeded to discuss The Cure. Then The Smiths. We agreed The Smiths were better than solo Morrissey and that Johnny Marr was the talent behind the operation.
As I spoke, I listened, with a full heart, to "Just Like Heaven".
A very Jenn and Sean song.
At the end of the night Sean walked me to my car.
"You have to come home," I told him.
"Didn't I tell you? I am."
I wanted to jump up and down, but let's face it, I'm old and could have broken a hip.
My dear friend is moving home next year. I am overjoyed.
A smooch and a hug later and I was driving home.
As much as I wanted to, I couldn't sing "Just Like Heaven".
My voice was gone.
But my friend was coming back. One of those few dear friends we make in life who can understand everything you're feeling even if you can't speak the words.
How lucky am I?
05 July 2010
A Great Weekend
We're nearing the end of Independence Day weekend. And what a great weekend it's been.
Work closed at 1 p.m. on Friday and after coming home for a few hours I drove to Philadelphia to visit with one of my most favorite people in the world, my friend Sean. I met Sean when I was 18 and he was 16...wow, 20 years now! He lives in Berlin, Germany now (squish, squish) and when he visits home I try to always see him. We spent a few hours sitting in his friend Chris' yard, drinking beers, smoking cigarettes and talking. It was a good night.
Saturday I cleaned like a mad woman (love it!) and then I popped in on my mom who had her best fried, Sue, visiting for the long weekend. After that I did some errands and enjoyed the evening.
Sunday my mom had a BBQ and I got to see my darling sister-in-law, brother and favorite little pickle, Zoe. Oh, how I adore her. I wish I could see her every single day, but her parents would kill me! :) She is just a perfect little girl...so smart and funny...just amazing.
And today is a day of rest. Well, rest and doing some organizing. I can't sit still for too long. There's always something to do. Like clean the ceiling fan and organize under the bathroom sink. But that's fun stuff (when you're insane like me!)
10 June 2010
Taking Notes
As a so-called writer, I often will scribble down a cool phrase or well-crafted sentence on a scrap of paper, envelope or a sticky note. My intention is to copy it down in my notebook for future reference when crafting a tale.
Every once in a blue moon, I come across one of these scribbled phrases. Sometimes I toss them, thinking them less than I originally had. Sometimes I copy them into my notebook. And sometimes, I read them, tuck them back in the place where I had just found them, so one day in the future they will surprise me with the same wave of emotion.
That happened to me last night when I opened a book I had tried to read a few months ago, then set aside. Inside it was a makeshift bookmark - a blue sticky note with words scribbled across it. One evening I had been feeling quite down and had begun IM-ing with my old and true pal, Nick, who I have adored for about 20 years now. When we finished with our chat I typed "good night". To which he replied, "Sleep well and know that I love you."
What a beautiful sentence. How could I not write that one down and save it for a future tale? Or, perhaps just save it for myself on a night when I need a smile.
Every once in a blue moon, I come across one of these scribbled phrases. Sometimes I toss them, thinking them less than I originally had. Sometimes I copy them into my notebook. And sometimes, I read them, tuck them back in the place where I had just found them, so one day in the future they will surprise me with the same wave of emotion.
That happened to me last night when I opened a book I had tried to read a few months ago, then set aside. Inside it was a makeshift bookmark - a blue sticky note with words scribbled across it. One evening I had been feeling quite down and had begun IM-ing with my old and true pal, Nick, who I have adored for about 20 years now. When we finished with our chat I typed "good night". To which he replied, "Sleep well and know that I love you."
What a beautiful sentence. How could I not write that one down and save it for a future tale? Or, perhaps just save it for myself on a night when I need a smile.
02 August 2009
I am you; you're my best friend...
When I was 14 I met William. And how I adored him.
William and I were best friends and then...we weren't.
We didn't really talk during our Senior Year. At graduation all the students had to go to certain classrooms to pick up their real diplomma. As I walked out of my classroom, William walked out of the one right across the hall from me. We stood staring at each other for a moment. I felt a wave of grief come over me because it was the end and we hadn't spoken the entire year. I ran over to him and he opened his arms...and I cried for what felt like an eternity. I can picture it like it was yesterday.
Over the next 19 years we have been in touch and not in touch. We saw each other at our 5 and 15 year reunions and a few other times in between.
Last night was the first time we've been together in four years...and I still adore him. I can't help it. He will always make me feel like we are still 14 and best friends. And that's a comforting feeling in this world I live in.
There are certain people in our lives we were meant to know...and William is one of mine.
Here we are in November of 1995 at our 5 year reunion. His name tag reads "Kato Kaelin"...that's how old we are! And please overlook my "I drank too much" eyes.
William and I were best friends and then...we weren't.
We didn't really talk during our Senior Year. At graduation all the students had to go to certain classrooms to pick up their real diplomma. As I walked out of my classroom, William walked out of the one right across the hall from me. We stood staring at each other for a moment. I felt a wave of grief come over me because it was the end and we hadn't spoken the entire year. I ran over to him and he opened his arms...and I cried for what felt like an eternity. I can picture it like it was yesterday.
Over the next 19 years we have been in touch and not in touch. We saw each other at our 5 and 15 year reunions and a few other times in between.
Last night was the first time we've been together in four years...and I still adore him. I can't help it. He will always make me feel like we are still 14 and best friends. And that's a comforting feeling in this world I live in.
There are certain people in our lives we were meant to know...and William is one of mine.
Here we are in November of 1995 at our 5 year reunion. His name tag reads "Kato Kaelin"...that's how old we are! And please overlook my "I drank too much" eyes.
28 February 2009
Happy Days
Diane stopped by today with the CD from her wedding photographer.
Here are a couple of my favorite shots.
Jessica and Samantha
Jessica and Samantha
Jessica, Diane and Me
Christopher and Jessica
Diane and Mark
14 January 2009
The Girls
It makes me giggle that whenever Jessica, Samantha, Diane and I are together and there's a camera around, we automatically pose for our beloved group shots.
I thought I'd share a few.
I thought I'd share a few.
09 November 2008
My pictures of you...
Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess whose only flaw was that she took lots of pictures and never uploaded them from her camera. And so one day she sat on her sofa and began the digital process. Alas! Photographs to share with family and friends. And all the subjects loved the beautiful princess.
Halloween
Sean came as my brother, Christopher. Note the angry eyebrows!
Diane was a witch and I was myself, in 1988. I made my high school uniform and wore too much makeup and combat boots!
Bachelorette Night
Here's Diane with the blow up penis Samantha got her!
Samantha and her little friend.
We take a group shot of the four of us whenever we're together.
Jessica, Diane, me and Samantha
Elizabeth's Birthday
Jessica is holding a jar of honest-to-goodness moonshine!
We all had a taste.
Now my life is complete!
My camera battery died not long after getting to this shindig. I'll have to wait to get Jessica's pictures before I can really share.
11 October 2008
"That VCR alone is worth getting married for."
Diane's wedding is about seven weeks away now!
When Di came over my apartment in May to tell me she was engaged my first selfish thought was, "Oh God, I have to pay to be in two weddings this year." When she informed me there was no wedding party and just her sister, Nancy, would be standing with her, my second selfish thought was, "I'm being gypped."
If there was ever one wedding I thought I would be in, it was Diane's. As we've been best buds for 22 years, I had always thought I'd get the top job. What's weird, is that I'm getting to do a lot of the top job tasks.
At her shower, I was the one handing her wrapped gifts, putting the unwrapped gifts aside, and carefully taping the greeting cards to the gifts so she could correlate them for her thank you notes. She and I went out a few weeks ago to find the perfect wedding shoes. I've seen countless centerpiece ideas. I went with her on Thursday for her first fitting and learned how to thread and pull her corset.
And you know what I realized? I may not have the top job on her wedding day, but I have the top job in her life. I am her "Buddy of Honor" and that's good enough for me. Being the Buddy of Honor means you get to experience all the meaningful details of the months leading up to your best friend's big day, without having to shell out a $1,000 to be in the event. Being the Buddy of Honor means you are the one entrusted to come up with a saying for the shower favors and search countless shoe stores for ivory cocktail shoes with ankle straps. It's reviewing the menu choices and reminding the bride to either borrow or buy a veil. It's all the small and incredibly important things that two women who've known each other since they were 14 can share.
That's me...the Buddy of Honor.
I love you, Diane.
(My title is a quote from Steel Magnolias.)
When Di came over my apartment in May to tell me she was engaged my first selfish thought was, "Oh God, I have to pay to be in two weddings this year." When she informed me there was no wedding party and just her sister, Nancy, would be standing with her, my second selfish thought was, "I'm being gypped."
If there was ever one wedding I thought I would be in, it was Diane's. As we've been best buds for 22 years, I had always thought I'd get the top job. What's weird, is that I'm getting to do a lot of the top job tasks.
At her shower, I was the one handing her wrapped gifts, putting the unwrapped gifts aside, and carefully taping the greeting cards to the gifts so she could correlate them for her thank you notes. She and I went out a few weeks ago to find the perfect wedding shoes. I've seen countless centerpiece ideas. I went with her on Thursday for her first fitting and learned how to thread and pull her corset.
And you know what I realized? I may not have the top job on her wedding day, but I have the top job in her life. I am her "Buddy of Honor" and that's good enough for me. Being the Buddy of Honor means you get to experience all the meaningful details of the months leading up to your best friend's big day, without having to shell out a $1,000 to be in the event. Being the Buddy of Honor means you are the one entrusted to come up with a saying for the shower favors and search countless shoe stores for ivory cocktail shoes with ankle straps. It's reviewing the menu choices and reminding the bride to either borrow or buy a veil. It's all the small and incredibly important things that two women who've known each other since they were 14 can share.
That's me...the Buddy of Honor.
I love you, Diane.
(My title is a quote from Steel Magnolias.)
30 September 2008
Did I mention I was in a wedding in August?
My sister-in-law's baby sister, Samantha, married Kyle on August 9th. I never had any photos to share until now.
Look at the lovely bridesmaids and the bride!
Look at the lovely bridesmaids and the bride!
Jessica, Samantha, me and Kerri
Brothers and sisters and husbands and wives
Christopher, me, Sean, Jessica, Kyle, Lisa, Samantha, Kyle, Larry, Kerri , Jason and Jackson
And they lived happily ever after...
12 September 2008
People I Really Like - Part Four
Name: Diane
Relation: Best friend
Aliases:
- Di
- Boo Boo
One reason why I like her: She's seen me through my darkest times, my best times, and every single time in between...and she's still along for the ride.
I've known her for: 22 years
The story behind this picture: This was taken in my kitchen on "Girl's Night" in March of this year. Diane's a bit tipsy in this one, as we all are on these glorious evenings.
Something only she will understand: "IIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!"
29 August 2008
We'll have so much fun and get to be life-long friends!
Sometimes when you get older you have to multi-task to get everything in your life done. I never thought that would entail combining breakfast with my best friend and an appointment with a bat exterminator.
Diane and I set aside today to get together. The plan was to breakfast and then go look for wedding shoes. That was until she and Mark saw about 20 bats fly out of the roof of their Victorian house earlier this week. The plan changed to Diane making me breakfast and us waiting for "Batman" to come to the house and figure out a way to de-bat the place. We were informed they have a "colony" of bats in the attic and Batman had to go back to the Batcave to create a proposal to get rid of the critters.
Then we waited for the Comcast guy to come because their land line hasn't been working. It turned out that the phone in the garage was off the hook. Ummm...did I ever mention that Mark is special? Well, not really, but I have cause to tease the hell out him now. He's the only one who's ever in the garage so we all know who the culprit was.
After these thrilling events, we went to five department stores and found no shoes. I did, however, stop at the drug store to buy girly supplies. Let me tell you ladies, it's going to get to a point where you have to take out a mortgage to buy tampons! Seriously! One box of tampons, one box of pads and a chocolate bar later, I spent almost $14. And I refuse to get generic tampons. I will be cheap here and there on other things, but I've always lived by the rule that anything that goes in my vagina - be it a man or a tampon - has got to pass a strict quality control test.
And the chocolate was a necessity. It was. I swear.
Diane and I set aside today to get together. The plan was to breakfast and then go look for wedding shoes. That was until she and Mark saw about 20 bats fly out of the roof of their Victorian house earlier this week. The plan changed to Diane making me breakfast and us waiting for "Batman" to come to the house and figure out a way to de-bat the place. We were informed they have a "colony" of bats in the attic and Batman had to go back to the Batcave to create a proposal to get rid of the critters.
Then we waited for the Comcast guy to come because their land line hasn't been working. It turned out that the phone in the garage was off the hook. Ummm...did I ever mention that Mark is special? Well, not really, but I have cause to tease the hell out him now. He's the only one who's ever in the garage so we all know who the culprit was.
After these thrilling events, we went to five department stores and found no shoes. I did, however, stop at the drug store to buy girly supplies. Let me tell you ladies, it's going to get to a point where you have to take out a mortgage to buy tampons! Seriously! One box of tampons, one box of pads and a chocolate bar later, I spent almost $14. And I refuse to get generic tampons. I will be cheap here and there on other things, but I've always lived by the rule that anything that goes in my vagina - be it a man or a tampon - has got to pass a strict quality control test.
And the chocolate was a necessity. It was. I swear.
27 August 2008
I could hurt someone like me out of spite or jealousy
So you may know that my best buddy, Diane, is getting married. The big day is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. (Another Thanksgiving wedding, Liz!)
Her shower is going to be September 13 (she knows...I'm not giving away any surprises), but was originally going to be September 20 until she realized that a good deal of her friends had an event down the shore that weekend. Since she wanted them to come to her shower, but not miss their annual weekend of fun for her, she changed the date to accommodate them.
When Diane mentioned how she arrived at the date to another girl we're friends with, the girl replied something to the effect of "It wouldn't really matter if they couldn't make it...this isn't your sort of thing anyway."
While Diane is not a typical bride, getting all caught up in every minute detail of her wedding, this girl's remark was hard for her to hear. No, Diane is not an overly-sentimental person. She's very matter-of-fact about a lot of things. However, she is excited to marry Mark and wants to enjoy all aspects of this occasion with her good friends and family around her.
The girl who played down the importance of Diane's shower, Diane and I believe, did it because she's had a run of failed relationships and is having a difficult time being happy for Diane right now.
While we all deserve to be loved, sometimes we just don't ever find someone who wants to accept the job. Regardless, negating someone else's happiness is a pretty petty way of making ones self feel better about ones own emotional emptiness. I've never quite gotten that whole "misery loves company" thing. No one's life is any more perfect than the next persons...all our lives have ups and downs. It's just a question of holding it together until the next "up".
(I think I should get points for using lyrics from the same song two days in a row.)
Her shower is going to be September 13 (she knows...I'm not giving away any surprises), but was originally going to be September 20 until she realized that a good deal of her friends had an event down the shore that weekend. Since she wanted them to come to her shower, but not miss their annual weekend of fun for her, she changed the date to accommodate them.
When Diane mentioned how she arrived at the date to another girl we're friends with, the girl replied something to the effect of "It wouldn't really matter if they couldn't make it...this isn't your sort of thing anyway."
While Diane is not a typical bride, getting all caught up in every minute detail of her wedding, this girl's remark was hard for her to hear. No, Diane is not an overly-sentimental person. She's very matter-of-fact about a lot of things. However, she is excited to marry Mark and wants to enjoy all aspects of this occasion with her good friends and family around her.
The girl who played down the importance of Diane's shower, Diane and I believe, did it because she's had a run of failed relationships and is having a difficult time being happy for Diane right now.
While we all deserve to be loved, sometimes we just don't ever find someone who wants to accept the job. Regardless, negating someone else's happiness is a pretty petty way of making ones self feel better about ones own emotional emptiness. I've never quite gotten that whole "misery loves company" thing. No one's life is any more perfect than the next persons...all our lives have ups and downs. It's just a question of holding it together until the next "up".
(I think I should get points for using lyrics from the same song two days in a row.)
25 August 2008
Coming through, coming through...lady with a baby.
Diane and I have known Peggy since 1989. For years our lives were quite entangled, but as time passed, we began to loose day to day touch with Peggy. Last year Peggy got married and had her first child. A week and a half ago she had her second. Diane and I were told that the baby was born via a cell phone text message.
Dear readers, I really want your opinions on this one. Diane and I were appalled that we were given the news in this way. We thought it extremely impersonal and insulting. However, my sister-in-law said that this is becoming a more and more common method for new moms to let everyone know.
Now, Jessica is 10 years younger than me and Di -- is this just a generation gap thing? Or is it just rude? Anyway, the important thing is the baby (a girl) and Peggy are healthy. I just found this method of communicating a bit too impersonal for this news. I would have rather waited for an announcement via snail mail...there are some things I'm just holding on to like Emily Post in this crazy world of technology!
Dear readers, I really want your opinions on this one. Diane and I were appalled that we were given the news in this way. We thought it extremely impersonal and insulting. However, my sister-in-law said that this is becoming a more and more common method for new moms to let everyone know.
Now, Jessica is 10 years younger than me and Di -- is this just a generation gap thing? Or is it just rude? Anyway, the important thing is the baby (a girl) and Peggy are healthy. I just found this method of communicating a bit too impersonal for this news. I would have rather waited for an announcement via snail mail...there are some things I'm just holding on to like Emily Post in this crazy world of technology!
24 June 2008
Perfect Day
For all of my bitching and melancholy moments, it may come as a shock to you, dear readers, that I actually have very happy memories.
This morning, while pouring my coffee, one of those memories crept into the front of my brain and begged me to recall it's minimal happiness.
It was the most perfect day...simple and really nothing in the grand scheme of moments. It wasn't a wedding...a big date...the birth of a loved one.
In May of 1995, three days after I graduated from college, my best pal, Diane, and I boarded a British Airways jet and flew to London. I was brain dead from my last semester of school...out of the five classes I carried, four were writing classes that taxed all of my free time (Creative Writing II, Advanced Public Relations Writing, Business Writing, and Writing for Children.) Moreover, I was directing a play that semester. Argh. By the time I walked in my cap and gown my brain was mush.
The first morning we were there we felt like zombies. We decided that we would not go crazy with the tourist stuff and just wander aimlessly. We found a little cafe that sold what is still possibly the best cup of coffee I have ever had in my life. The sky was overcast and a light rain fell on us as we walked and walked and walked.
We ended up at the London Zoo where we sat on a bench and talked about our lives. What the future held for us...the possibilities seemed endless then for we were only 23 and too young to be afraid of failing.
It was a true perfect storm that culminated in a moment that will be seared in my mind forever...the weight of school had been lifted...I was in my favorite city in the world...and I shared that moment with my best friend.
It's the tiny, seemingly insignificant moments like this that formed my life. No one walking past us that day would have had any clue that we were two American little girls on the brink of the rest of our lives. We just seemed like two tired idiots sipping coffee in the rain.
This morning, while pouring my coffee, one of those memories crept into the front of my brain and begged me to recall it's minimal happiness.
It was the most perfect day...simple and really nothing in the grand scheme of moments. It wasn't a wedding...a big date...the birth of a loved one.
In May of 1995, three days after I graduated from college, my best pal, Diane, and I boarded a British Airways jet and flew to London. I was brain dead from my last semester of school...out of the five classes I carried, four were writing classes that taxed all of my free time (Creative Writing II, Advanced Public Relations Writing, Business Writing, and Writing for Children.) Moreover, I was directing a play that semester. Argh. By the time I walked in my cap and gown my brain was mush.
The first morning we were there we felt like zombies. We decided that we would not go crazy with the tourist stuff and just wander aimlessly. We found a little cafe that sold what is still possibly the best cup of coffee I have ever had in my life. The sky was overcast and a light rain fell on us as we walked and walked and walked.
We ended up at the London Zoo where we sat on a bench and talked about our lives. What the future held for us...the possibilities seemed endless then for we were only 23 and too young to be afraid of failing.
It was a true perfect storm that culminated in a moment that will be seared in my mind forever...the weight of school had been lifted...I was in my favorite city in the world...and I shared that moment with my best friend.
It's the tiny, seemingly insignificant moments like this that formed my life. No one walking past us that day would have had any clue that we were two American little girls on the brink of the rest of our lives. We just seemed like two tired idiots sipping coffee in the rain.
31 May 2008
And we'll never be lonely anymore...
...Because we're going to the chapel and we're gonna get married...
Today was my friend and honorary baby sister, Samantha's bridal shower. Sammi was tricked into thinking she was going to her shower when her fiance suggested she dress up and they go out to lunch. They got to the restaurant and there was no party waiting for her there. However, when she arrived at her mother's home she opened the door to Estrogen Fest 2008.
Please meet Bridesmaid Kerri, Bridesmaid Jennifer, Matron-of-Honor Jessica, Bride-to-Be Samantha, Bridesmaid Kristen, and Bridesmaid Hillary.
As Sammi and her fiance Kyle are movie-crazed fiends, the theme of the shower was...The Movies. Seriously, you have no idea how excited Jessica and I were about this banner.
Here's the bride-to-be getting ready to open her gifts.
Sisters...Sammi, Jessica and Kerri.
Here's me and and my best pal, Diane. If you concentrate hard enough, my hair looks much better than it seems.
Sammi seemed to really enjoy her shower and she loved that we tailored the theme to her unique and quirky personality. She has no clue, however, that I am planning on stealing her KitchenAid mixer.
My title is from Chapel Of Love by The Dixie Cups.
Today was my friend and honorary baby sister, Samantha's bridal shower. Sammi was tricked into thinking she was going to her shower when her fiance suggested she dress up and they go out to lunch. They got to the restaurant and there was no party waiting for her there. However, when she arrived at her mother's home she opened the door to Estrogen Fest 2008.
Please meet Bridesmaid Kerri, Bridesmaid Jennifer, Matron-of-Honor Jessica, Bride-to-Be Samantha, Bridesmaid Kristen, and Bridesmaid Hillary.
As Sammi and her fiance Kyle are movie-crazed fiends, the theme of the shower was...The Movies. Seriously, you have no idea how excited Jessica and I were about this banner.
Here's the bride-to-be getting ready to open her gifts.
Sisters...Sammi, Jessica and Kerri.
Here's me and and my best pal, Diane. If you concentrate hard enough, my hair looks much better than it seems.
Sammi seemed to really enjoy her shower and she loved that we tailored the theme to her unique and quirky personality. She has no clue, however, that I am planning on stealing her KitchenAid mixer.
My title is from Chapel Of Love by The Dixie Cups.
03 April 2008
In My Life
There's a strange phenomenon in my life...it's my friend Amy and how she relates to my, well, relations.
Amy grew up in the Pocono mountain area of Pennsylvania. She moved to New Jersey as an adult and eventually began dating a boy named Jimmy. One time when I was at her house she and Jimmy asked me if I could help update his resume, because I am, after all, a master at writing bullshit. I noticed that Jimmy graduated from the same high school and in the same year as my cousin, Fran. I asked Jimmy if he knew Fran and he was like, "Know him? I was his roommate!" Bizarre coincidence #1.
Fran has a sister named Liz (Blogger Queen) and also a sister named Karen (Blogger Princess). Liz got married last year and her shower invitations were mailed with Karen's return address on the envelope. Karen lives in the same condo complex as...AMY! Bizarre coincidence #2.
A few weekends ago Amy and Jimmy went for drinks in Mt. Holly and guess who they ran into and chatted with for a bit? My cousin Fran!
Here's my new plan if I want to see any of these cousins of mine...I send Amy out to a predetermined destination and then I go about 30 minutes later, for one of my family members is sure to show up.
My title is from In My Life.
Addendum...I totally forgot another bizarre thing...last Saturday Amy and I went to visit her sister, Megan for a bit. Megan's house is right behind the house of my best bud, Diane's parents! Seriously, what are the odds?
Amy grew up in the Pocono mountain area of Pennsylvania. She moved to New Jersey as an adult and eventually began dating a boy named Jimmy. One time when I was at her house she and Jimmy asked me if I could help update his resume, because I am, after all, a master at writing bullshit. I noticed that Jimmy graduated from the same high school and in the same year as my cousin, Fran. I asked Jimmy if he knew Fran and he was like, "Know him? I was his roommate!" Bizarre coincidence #1.
Fran has a sister named Liz (Blogger Queen) and also a sister named Karen (Blogger Princess). Liz got married last year and her shower invitations were mailed with Karen's return address on the envelope. Karen lives in the same condo complex as...AMY! Bizarre coincidence #2.
A few weekends ago Amy and Jimmy went for drinks in Mt. Holly and guess who they ran into and chatted with for a bit? My cousin Fran!
Here's my new plan if I want to see any of these cousins of mine...I send Amy out to a predetermined destination and then I go about 30 minutes later, for one of my family members is sure to show up.
My title is from In My Life.
Addendum...I totally forgot another bizarre thing...last Saturday Amy and I went to visit her sister, Megan for a bit. Megan's house is right behind the house of my best bud, Diane's parents! Seriously, what are the odds?
25 March 2008
Who Do You Need? Who Do You Love?
Well, have I got happy news! My best buddy Diane called me yesterday and asked if she could pop over for coffee. I was very excited because I don't get to see her as often as I'd like to. Diane was just in the front door and hadn't even taken off her jacket yet when she said she had something important to tell me.
I stopped dead in my tracks and asked, "Are you pregnant or engaged?"
ENGAGED!!!!!!!!
Yippee!!!! Diane and Mark are getting married!!!!
Plans are still tentative; Diane doesn't want anything over the top...or anywhere even near the top, for that matter! She just wants a simple party of family and close friends. I can't wait!!!!
My title is from Come Undone.
I stopped dead in my tracks and asked, "Are you pregnant or engaged?"
ENGAGED!!!!!!!!
Yippee!!!! Diane and Mark are getting married!!!!
Plans are still tentative; Diane doesn't want anything over the top...or anywhere even near the top, for that matter! She just wants a simple party of family and close friends. I can't wait!!!!
My title is from Come Undone.
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