Friendships = "Grande non-fat no-foam triple shot latté, please"

.1. Happy 1st, baby:







Daddy manages Ottawa's baseball team and so we had the entire Lynx Stadium to ourselves. In tandem, this was creepy and exciting.

.2. For the past four evenings, I’ve spent my nights with some of the most important women in my life. Over wings and drinks and coffees and cakes, we’ve spent hours pouring over our loves, hearts, politics, friendships, children, fathers, dreams, fears…everything.

It feels like a sort of marathon of friendship as of late; like we’re trying to make up for lost time and break a record all the while making certain to fill a quota in terms of conversational capacity. Reality dictates that much of this has been happening because I am the guilty (& still not satiated) instigator of these evenings…

I’ve refused to spend any time alone and so chose to instead surround myself with a warmth that can only come from my animated girlfriends. Needless to say, we’ve likely consumed unhealthy amounts of chicken wings this past week.

.3. Last night was a serendipitous sort of evening. O & I had finished up at DM’s and were heading out when I ran into a very old and dear friend of mine from a group I used to hang out with nearly 12 years ago.

A mutual birthday shared, a few of them were out celebrating and M invited me along to say hello. I planned on popping in briefly, and ended up staying the course of the evening instead. A friend owns the restaurant and so we literally locked the doors after the last customers and enjoyed the space to ourselves.

Here’s a snippet of one conversation:
Maha: “How’s your grandfather?”
M*: “He died about two years ago, Maha.”
“Oh my god. Jees. This is awkward, eh? I'm such an idiot.”
“Way to place your foot in your mouth.”
…insert extreme laughter from both, and then the ensuing banter…
“And your mom? I hear she got out of those shoplifting charges pretty easily...must help that you're a cop!”
“Yeah, totally. And my dad? He's been able to put that sexual harassment case behind him.”
“Excellent! How’s your sister doing after that abortion? Did we ever figure out who the dad was?”
“No, not really. No one cares...abortion was okay, it's the herpes that are killer!”
“I bet!”
"This is good, getting caught up like this. Mom still hooking?"
"Absolutely. This is fun. We should take this on the road."
"Let's."
"OKAY!"

It’s amazing how quickly and comfortably we can fall back into friendship. Although last night was a welcome and heartwarming evening, it’s probable that I won’t see most of them for years to come. Regardless, all involved are like huge warm blankets well worn and of the perfect fit, memories of them I’ve carefully tucked away and of which I’ve taken very good care. Life dictated that we would drift apart, but last night was a clear indication that no matter time and space, they still fit and they will always fit.