My BFF

Meredith, the bride

Sometimes it takes making new friends to truly appreciate your old friends.... That hasn't happened to me. :) I have been blessed with a gift to truly appreciate my blessings and that includes relishing the present and my friends - but especially the old ones.

Meredith came to visit yesterday. We were roommates and best friends in college. Despite the fact that the last 10 years have taken us to different cities, different friends and definitely different ends of the political spectrum, I still feel like Meredith is my BFF. I have since made friends that have become family to me - as I'm sure Meredith has. We rarely talk and I'm a horrible e-mailer. Somehow we still have a friendship that lets us spend yesterday running errands together and we reconnect as easily as can be.

Meredith and I didn't know each other prior to arriving on campus our freshman year. We weren't roommates and didn't coordinate bedding. She selected a blue & white gingham Ralph Lauren comforter for her dorm room. Ironically, it was an exact match for my blue & white gingham Ralph Lauren comforter. That's how similarly we are wired on a very basic level. (Of course, now she'd choose an organic cotton comforter that is probably beige since it hasn't been dyed, bleached or processed and I'd probably choose something cheap from Target) We had the opportunity to be best friends in that special time where EVERYTHING we did was the most fun thing ever and even in the hardest times since. She's a central part of all of it.

I just love this cat. And guess what??? My dear friend is expecting her first baby - a precious baby girl this spring. I love this baby already like she's my own flesh and blood. She is a lucky girl to have my BFF as her mom. She will grow up playing hard, laughing hard and working hard. Everything from her name, to the way that she's disciplined, to the toys that she plays with will be well thought out and analyzed to a fault by her sweet mom. I surely wish they'd move next door. I'd offer them a spot in the country with us, but it might be a bit far by bike...

I'm so thankful for Meredith and for all of my "old" friends. I'm working very hard to make new friendships in this new (old) place. To the point where I'm probably starting to scare them off. :) Days like yesterday with Meredith are fantastic for getting that special girlfriend time in until the next time I can get a little fix. I'm grateful for her (and all of my dear sweet friends) and for her willingness to drive 4 hours to spend the afternoon running errands. I couldn't be more blessed.