Friends

I've been feelin' awfully nostalgic lately.

And not just 'cause I've been watching far too much of VH1's "I Love the Millenium" and "'80's One-Hit Wonders". Facebook is partly at fault, since it has wonderfully brought me back into contact with friends from years ago. Blogs and the internet spur on this desire in me to reach back and remember the people who've come and gone in my life.

Right now though, my nostalgia is mainly because I had the best time the other night hanging out with one of my best friends, Jessi. You know those friendships that just seem to continue on, span a decade or more, without a ton of effort on either of your parts. You know what I mean, the friendships where you wish you saw each other more, or talked more often, but it's solid despite the gaps. One of those pick-up-the-phone-and-easily-catch-up-and-enjoy-every-second-of-the-conversation kinda things. Jessi and I don't see each other nearly as often as we did in High School, where we nerdily spent many hours at the school (until janitors tried to kick us out) working on the High School newspaper in the journalism room, while eating Kraft Cheese and Crackers. Yet, she's one of the first people I think of when I have "I'm pregnant," "I'm hurting," "I'm celebrating," "I'm pissed," or "I'm happy," kinda news.

Jess and I got together a few nights ago, sitting in Village Inn for four hours, eating pie until well after 11:30PM. I think the waitresses hated us. My husband was starting to wonder if I'd been in an accident or had fled the state, leaving him with our two young children. Jessi and I could have talked all night, had it not been a school night for Jessi, an elementary school teacher, and I hadn't had a nursing baby at home. We caught up, we talked about the future, and we reminised. Oh, how I love to reminise. We were laughing and reminding and reliving so many experiences, relationships, jokes and stories that have come and gone, ebbed and flowed, made up the backbone of what is our friendship. It made me fondly look back at the things and people that have influenced me since high school, and even before that.

It made me want to throw a big reunion party, for all the people who were ever my friends. They wouldn't all know each other. We may not really even know each other anymore, but I'd like to say thanks to people who made a difference in my life. Were there for me. I could even say made me a better person, or influenced me for the better. Heck, I wouldn't have the deep love and appreciation for hockey, Jimmy Eat World, Wasatch Broiler, drive by stalking, purple eyeliner or Dylan McKay if it weren't for some of the best friends I could've had. Especially at those points in my life. The guest of honor would have to be Greg though, the best friend I could have ever hoped for. I might be a little embarassed though, when all my other 'best friends' throughout the years started to share their stories . . . . I don't think Greg's heard 'em all. Probably best if it stays that way. :-) You do and say some of the stupidest stuff around the people you love and trust the most. I mean really, one of the reasons to stay close to friends from days gone by is that anyone who's heard your unending and passionate list of reasons you and Kirk Cameron should be married, should be closely monitored. Some things shared between friends should be taken to the grave.