It’s no wonder that it has been easy to make it my home…
And this weekend, my friends helped make it a GREAT weekend.
Start to Finish.
These are the dear ones in my life who managed to put a drink in my hand, a smile on my face, or some combination of the two this weekend!
How did I get so lucky?!
Sharing a single beer on Thursday night, catching up, listening to me and loving me just as I am. This friend knows me…and he doesn’t wish that I would drink less, he doesn’t wish I would go out more, he doesn’t wish I would wear different clothes or like different TV shows. He doesn’t always share my taste for bars or restaurants or movies, but he absolutely, always lets me be me.
Enjoying happy hour on Friday after work with my dear running friends. People who went from strangers last year at this time, to some of the most important people in my life.
Having dinner with Sharon (also running friend) at Maiko. We are becoming great friends! She is helping me better my life and I am helping her better hers. Different ways. All better!
Bumping into college friends at my new, favorite bar. This group of guys (about 25) represents, all at one time: former crushes, alright fine...still crushes, dear friends, future roommates, past mistakes, and "back-up" 40 year-old future husbands (what?!). These friends have encouraged me to take a chance and have fun. They knew me when I was 18 years old and they have known every version of me since then. In those moments when I am not the best version of myself, they like me anyway. They like me for it.
My former roommate from my days at the Ghetto at Highlands Hill Country. I can always count on her for a drink, Tex-Mex and Texas Football. We went to the game with her husband and his brother, the Alumni Center for drinks, and Taco Cabana for post game grub. She has endured good boyfriends, bad boyfriends, worse neighbors, and three moves with me and she's still standing. Ready for the next challenge. Ready to encourage me. Still my friend.Crazy, Austin friend who seems to show up everywhere and know everyone. In one passing comment and quick hug on Saturday night, he managed to put a smile on my face for the rest of the already late evening!
My friend Blair called Sunday afternoon. (Blair, you finally made the blog!) There are two fun things about this call. First, he was – by far – more hung over than I was, and second, he called for no reason. He was driving back to Austin from a bachelor party the night before…you only call real friends for no reason.
Jane: Hello.
Blair: H-h-e-e-l-l-p-p.
Jane: Blair, does your liver hurt?
Blair: Yes! It was ridiculous!
Sweet friend from high school. She and I played basketball together, ran around with the same friends. She lives in Chicago; her boyfriend is in Austin tearing down from ACL fest. We had a tequila brunch at Guero’s together and caught up on work, family, boys and life.
My first college roommate. My tall girlfriend. That's right, she's taller than I am and she's gorgeous! She called to catch up on all of the college boys that I ran into this weekend (so many were asking about her!), plan our trip to Dallas next weekend, and catch up on our gossip. Sarah has seen every angle of my life for the last 12 years. She's been right next to me through some of my most difficult, my craziest moments. Literally. (Ha!)
Florida. I must have left five or so messages for her this weekend, received twice as many text messages from her. We connected for the tequila brunch, but hadn’t seen much of each other the rest of the weekend. Monday morning on our drives to work, we caught up. We recapped and processed the weekend. I told her all of my stories and she told me hers. We laughed and made smart-ass comments. We told each other what we should have said and what we’re going to do next time. She is almost always my first call of the day; usually that first call is after work. This morning she was still my first call, but she was also the last friend of my weekend…
That’s appropriate. Save the best for last.
