R+B+B

If you ask a host in a restaurant to take your picture and to "make it kind of close," this is what you will get. 

I have said many times on this blog that I have been abundantly blessed in my friendships.  It seems a little excessive at times...what could I have possibly done in this life or the previous to deserve so many rich friendships?  But I'm grateful for them and I hope to always continue in this manner.

Last week I went to dinner with a couple of such friends, dear Rose and my sweet Brooke-let (Taggart, we missed you like crazy).  We have been friends since well, forever, since Rose is my cousin and Brooke and I met in the 90's which is basically ancient history.  It was a magical night...even the guitarist at the restaurant knew it since he played every song we had ever loved during our years living together.  It was an evening of love and support and sharing and every possible thing a friendship should be.  We dragged it on and on because I am really crappy at good-byes, and I was worried that this one would be among the worst I would have to say. 

I've asked myself so many times what has made this particular friendship so meaningful to me, and I think I finally have the answer.  I have a few childhood friends I keep in touch with: we had lots of good times in school together but we really weren't fully formed humans yet either.  I have lots of friends I have made at work or in the neighborhood, and they know the "grown-up" version of me.  But Rose and Brooke were witnesses to the transition from girl to adult.  They were there when I made painful mistakes, they were there when I had successes, they were there for the late night crying jags and the early morning job interviews, and this is what I know about these women:  They had my back for every single second and they never doubted me for a moment.  That conglomeration of experiences has created a relationship that is truly remarkable.

The time for the good-bye finally came and we handled it as best we could, but as I walked to my car I thought, "Get ready to cry the whole way home."  When I started driving, though, I was overwhelmed by a calm, calm feeling, and I didn't cry at all.  I felt a peace and comfort that was the same peace and comfort that I have always felt in that relationship, and I knew that time and distance was irrelevant and all that mattered were the strength of our bonds.

And they are strong.