The Ones Doing Life With Me
Thanksgiving is a perfect time to reflect on the ones we love the most...
Last weekend, Gracie and I went with one of her best friends, Rosie, and her mom, Kristy, to ICE! at the Gaylord Palms. Gracie and Rosie have been friends since they were wee ones in preschool. Rosie moved to a different middle school when the girls started 6th grade, so it takes extra effort to stay in touch but it is worth every minute to see these girls growing up side-by-side.
Their friendship reminds me of my friendship with my two best girlfriends that I've had since 6th grade. Sarah lives in our hometown and Christina lives in Italy, so, just like Rosie and Gracie, it takes a little extra effort to make our friendship work, but I truly cannot imagine my life without these two women. And I think Gracie feels the same way about Rosie.
Friendships are such a special thing, aren't they? Especially as we get older. Life is busy and chaotic, but that all swirls around the grounded love of a lifelong friend.
Sarah, Christina, and I keep in touch using Marco Polo, a video app that lets us leave video messages for each other. We leave them daily. Sometimes multiple times a day. I listen to their messages and then leave my own every morning on my way to work. Usually, I listen to their messages again on the way home, too. It is such an ingrained habit that if I don't start my day with it, the day just feels off somehow.
This morning I left them an MP about how I can feel myself getting cranky in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. This happens to me at the holidays. I get grumpy for no reason that I can point to, and then I realize that I'm not actually grumpy. I'm a little sad. I miss my dad at the holidays and in the days leading up to them, I'm always a bit off kilter.
I haven't even listened to Sarah and Christina's MP's back to me yet, but I know what their response will be. They will love on me, tell me sweet things about my dad that they loved and miss, and then they will move on and complain about jobs or kids or spouses and life will go on. And this is how we do life together. As we head into Thanksgiving week, I count these friendships as one of my greatest blessings.
Seeing Gracie and Rosie hang out this weekend, Kristy and I caught up with each other while the girls did. And as we gossiped and chatted while drinking overpriced hot chocolate and the girls gossiped and chatted while sliding down frozen ice slides, my heart was filled with gratitude for the people we do life with and who love us just as we are.
