The Potbelly Pixie

Real Friends

I often feel a little lonely in Chico because I did my schooling and growing up and childbearing and mommy-n-me-ing elsewhere, and have been more or less holed up as a SAHM and homebound artist since moving here in late 2000, so I don't have a wide group of friends here, or any deep friendships.  I am going to lunch today with a very cool chica in my neighborhood, which is a special treat.

I've made some real and true and deep friends on the internet, though... first and foremost, my husband, my very best friend, who YES, I met online.  But I'm talking also about many, many online others who have been "real" in my life; who've sent cards, and condolences, and congratulations, gifts, and good wishes over the years... who've been supportive and helpful and just as caring and loving as any "real world" friend might be, that might live next door, instead of in New Zealand, or Russia, or Wisconsin, or Texas.

Today, my very real friend Sarah, whose voice I've never heard but whose art -- and heart -- I've come to know well, did a very real-friend thing for me.  She designed an Etsy TREASURY themed around my painful and sheepish-making braces adventure this week.

If that's not real friendship -- taking the time to think of someone compassionately, and letting them know you're doing just that -- I don't know what is.

For as long as it lasts (Treasuries do expire) you can view Sarah's Etsy Treasury here.  And for your amusement and to record for all of posterity, here's a screen cap of it, in all it's toothy glory.

I heart Sarah.  XOXO.

Girlfriends

I was just catching up with my friend Kristi's blog; she posts photos almost daily of her beautiful twins, to keep family and friends updated on their lives.  Recently she and another close friend, Cara, spent time together here in California.  I was otherwise occupied with family and work and couldn't join them.  Seeing their pictures on Kristi's blog, realizing how long it's been since I've been around them and their children, just brings home how much a part of me these women are, and probably always will be, no matter how much time and distance separate us.  God, I miss them.

These women are my best girlfriends from college.  We were all TriDelts at UCLA in the mid 1980's.  We were there to help one another transition into graduate life, and then married life, and later, life with children... and for some of us, cancer, adoption, disability, and divorce.   Now, we all live many hours from one another -- one of us, as far away as Chicago.  I don't even have words to express how much I miss their constant presence in my life.  While I have a number of close friendships forged in the time since, I've never found relationships quite like the ones I share with these incredible, wise women, anywhere else I've lived. 

When I do get the rare gift of their time and company, it's nothing short of  food for my soul.

I also have a dear, dear friend from high school I see far too infrequently.  Kelly, I haven't forgotten you; I just don't have a photo to post.