I Have A Friend

I've spent this year in awe of my friendships. How did I get so lucky to run across and snag these special and warm kindred spirits? This evening, I've been thinking about a few of them.

• I have a friend who when you say his name, the reaction is, "ohhhh, I LOVE said friend!!". Every. Single. Person. Every. Single. Time. No exceptions. He is loved by everyone for every reason.

• I have a friend who seems so prim, proper, and perfect, but is actually the goofiest, most endearing creature you could imagine. You feel so lucky that you took the leap to get to know her.

• I have a friend who is like a sister, and who I never have to explain myself to. She is whip-smart, creative, beautiful, caring, and always up for a laugh or an adventure.

• I have a friend whose smile can make anyone swoon. He makes you feel so special, so interesting. But really, he is the one who is the most special and most interesting and filled to the brim with all the love. Everyone wishes to be in his circle.

• I have a friend who I can trust beyond belief. She is the best partner in crime, and can always be relied on in coolness, stealth, brains, style, and getting things done. There is nothing she lags behind on.

• I have a friend who is so intuitive and has such a connection to humanity, that the words she strings together will bring any breathing human to tears, belly-laughs, or stunned introspection. She always knows exactly the right thing to say in order for you to feel that all is right with the world.

• I have a friend who is the most Type A person I have ever met, but in the best way. Her black & white instincts are only matched by her huge heart that beats so strongly for those she cares about.

• I have a friend who has no equal when it comes to talents - in humor, in voice, in heart, in mind. Every part of him is enviable and he is willing to share all of it.

• I have a friend who is laughably lovable. Everything she does, she does with passion, and no one can (or wants to) escape the love and wickedly intriguing humor and smarts that she brings to a friendship.

• I have a friend who is sneakily powerful. She can listen and somehow be there for you in any situation, no matter the distance, no matter the drama. She gives everything and yet does not hold a grudge to those who cannot step up to her royal status.

• I have a friend who I've yet to find a fault in. His talent, sense of adventure, fierce loyalty, incredible thoughtfulness, and amazing humor is something that attracts loads upon loads of friends, yet each of us feels like we are his "best". You feel so lucky that he picked you.

• I have a friend who I yearn to be like, but always lets me know that I'm enough as me. She is someone that everyone knew would achieve great things in life, and not only has crossed that finish line, but has signed up for another marathon of greatness.

• I have a friend who is the most creative person I know - and I've known her a long time. There is nothing that she doesn't bring beauty to, and there is nothing that matches her beauty.

Thank you, friends, for accepting my Application For Friendship. xo

Marbled

New blog alert!

Marbled

I wish there was a way to be compensated for reading blogs. All the blogs. I love them so...and even more than so when I happen to know the blogger is an A+ human being.

My friend Shazia is the mind and voice behind the new blog Marbled, which focuses on "blending backgrounds, cultures and interests into a family".

Shaz and I became dear friends our freshman year of high school. We had previously been involved in music and theatre together, but it wasn't until a fated 3+ hour laugh-filled phone call that first week of 9th grade that I knew this gal was in my life forever.

Decades (gulp!) later, our paths crossed again, this time amongst the concrete and taxi horns, when Shazia and her husband, Jeff, made the move to the big bad apple for her fellowship. Although we lived on opposite ends of Manhattan, we were able to catch up on bits and pieces of life. One of the most important bits and pieces is their daughter Yazmeen, who I was lucky enough to babysit for a summer.

The blog begins as they depart the skyscrapers of Manhattan for a move to the beaches of Florida, with an extended trip to paradise in between.

Their life is truly a swirl of cultures, careers, talents, backgrounds, and passions.

Follow Shazia, Jeff, and Yazi as they create a well-mixed journey, full of all the flavor, texture, and color that you'd expect from a marbled life.

Stars and Stripes

Happy 4th of July!

What are your plans for today? Beach? Grill? Park? Backyard? Parade? Avoiding Hurricane Arthur? Whatever the details may be, I hope family and friends are involved. The 4th is probably my favorite holiday. I love the food, I love the activity, I love the celebration, and I love the togetherness. Today my family is heading out for an adventure, making route decisions as we go along, having a progressive meal on our road trip, and perhaps flying a kite or two. 

Although I'm all for the fun of a patriotic holiday, I wondered how much I really do know about how our country was established and how it functions. Thanks to the internet, you can test your knowledge of such things by attempting the U.S. Naturalization exam:

U.S. Citizen Worthy?

Did you pass? Good! Now go grab yourself a sparkler and a hot dog and sing You're a Grand Ole Flag.

You're a Grand Old Flag

by George M. Cohan

 

You're a grand old flag,

You're a high flying flag

And forever in peace may you wave.

You're the emblem of

The land I love.

The home of the free and the brave.

Ev'ry heart beats true

'neath the Red, White and Blue,

Where there's never a boast or brag.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

You're a grand old flag,

You're a high flying flag

And forever in peace may you wave.

You're the emblem of

The land I love.

The home of the free and the brave.

Ev'ry heart beats true

'neath the Red, White and Blue,

Where there's never a boast or brag.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

Best Friends

I spent the afternoon totally entranced in the audiobook version of Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

You guys. Seriously. Mins and I need to be friends. She definitely should receive an Application for Friendship. I really should have been on that 10 years ago. Ah well. For now, I have the comfort of hearing her narrate the tales of her 20s to 30s in this utterly laugh-out-loud and identifiable tale.

Here is Mindy's Best Friend Code of Conduct. I am in total agreement. Even on the Indian food.

I CAN BORROW ALL YOUR CLOTHES
Anything in your closet, no matter how fancy, is co-owned by me, your best friend. I can borrow it for as long as I want. If I get something on it or I lose it, I should make all good faith attempts to get it cleaned or buy you a new one, but I don’t need to do that, and you still have to love me. If I ruin something of yours and I don’t replace it, you’re allowed to talk shit about me to our friends for one calendar year. That’s it. Then you have to get over it. One stipulation to borrowing your clothes is that you have to have worn the item at least once before I borrow it. I’m not a monster.

WE SLEEP IN THE SAME BED
If we’re on a trip or if our boyfriends are away, and there’s a bed bigger than a twin, we’re partnering up. It is super weird for us not to share a bed. How else will we talk until we fall asleep?

I MUST BE 100% HONEST ABOUT HOW YOU LOOK, BUT GENTLE
Look, your boyfriend is never going to tell you that your skirt is too tight and riding up too high on you. In fact, you shouldn’t have to even ask him, the poor guy. He wants to have sex with you no matter how pudgy you are. I am the only person besides your mom who has the right (and responsibility) to tell you that. I should never be overly harsh when something doesn’t look good on you, because I know you are fragile about this and so am I. I will employ the gentle, vague expression, “I’m not crazy about that on you,” which should mean to you: “Holy shit, take that off, that looks terrible.” I owe it to you to give feedback like a cattle prod: painful, but quick.

I CAN DITCH YOU, WITHIN REASON
I can ditch you to hang out with a guy, but only if that possibility has been discussed and getting-a-ride-home practicalities have been worked out prior to the event. In return, I need to talk about you a lot with that guy so he knows how much I love you.

I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR KID IF YOU DIE
I...can’t even talk about this, it’s too sad. But yes, I will do that. And you will have one awesome little kid who hears endless stories about how amazing and beautiful and perfect you were. Incidentally, your kid will grow up loving Indian food.

I WILL NURSE YOU BACK TO HEALTH
If you are crippled with pain because of a UTI, I need to haul ass to CVS and get you some medicine, fast. I should also try to pick up a fashion magazine and the candy that you like, because distracting you from your pain is part of nursing you back to health, too.

WE WILL TRADE OFF BEING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES CHAIR FOR OUR OUTINGS
On trips together, I promise to man up and be the person who drives the rental car sometimes, or uses my credit card and has people pay me back later. Someone needs to check on Yelp to see where the good brunch place is. Neither of us gets to be the princess all the time. I get that.

I WILL KEEP YOUR FAVORITE FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCT AT MY HOUSE
Even though no one uses maxi-pads anymore, like you do, weirdo, I will keep a box at my house for you when you come over.

SAME WITH YOUR CONTACT LENS SOLUTION
I can’t believe you won’t get Lasik already! You can afford it. I know you read someone went blind from it, but that was like twenty years ago. Not getting Lasik at this point is like being that girl in 2006 who didn’t have a cell phone.

I WILL TRY TO LIKE YOUR BOYFRIEND FIVE TIMES
That is a fair number of times to hang out with your boyfriend and withhold judgment.

WHEN I TAKE A SHOWER AT YOUR PLACE, I WON’T DROP THE TOWEL ON THE FLOOR
Your home isn’t a hotel. I forget that sometimes because you make it so comfortable for me.

IF YOU’RE DEPRESSED, I WILL BE THERE FOR YOU
As everyone knows, depressed people are some of the most boring people in the world. I know this because when I was depressed, people fled. Except my best friends. I will be there for you during your horrible breakup, or getting fired from your job, or if you're just having a bad couple of months, or a year. I will hate it and I will find you really tedious, but I promise I won't abandon you.

IF OUR PHONE CONVERSATION GETS DISCONNECTED, THERE'S NO NEED TO CALL BACK I get it, you get it. We take forever getting off the phone anyway, this was a blessing.

I WILL HATE AND RE-LIKE PEOPLE FOR YOU
But you can't get mad if I can’t keep track. Robby? Don’t we hate him? No, we love him? Okay, okay. Sorry.

IT IS OKAY TO TAKE ME FOR GRANTED
I know when you fall in love with someone that you will completely forget about me. That hurts my feelings, but it is okay. Please try to remember to text me, if you can, if you know I have something going on in my life, like a work promotion or something.

NO TWO PEOPLE ARE BETTER THAN US
We fucking rock. No one can beat us.

Blooming

My Gran passed away a year ago today. Man, I miss her.

I think about her every single day. Sometimes in a major, weepy, meaning of life kind of way. Sometimes in simple, little ways. Today I had memories of her in the small things.

I bought myself a Christmas Cactus a few years back after noticing one in Gran's dining room window. It has never before bloomed at Christmas. Until this year.

Happy New Year, Gran. Love you.

98

This is my first September 3rd without Gran. She would have been 98 today. I miss her every moment.

I love you, Gran. Wish I could still send you letters complaining about the cost of souvenirs, fretting about my sloppy writing, and sketching all of the family pets. But most of all, to sign them

Love,
Lucy

Saying Goodbye

My heart has been healing over the last few weeks. It will always have a piece missing, but I do believe other pieces will thrive and grow and make it feel complete. Now it's time to get back to the world of meeting deadlines, accomplishing goals, cleaning, socializing and yes, blogging. See you soon.

Violets

Newsworthy

 

 2011 is ending in the warmest of ways. I took a break to spend time with loved ones, but will be back to "liking" things before you can say Happy New Year. Hope your holidays have been merry & bright.

Grand Like

Thanks, Gran. Hope I get to #97, as well.

Falling For You

It's fall, y'all (sorry, I was just in Virginia). For the past month, there have been hints: flu shot reminders, drugstores loaded with Halloween candy and plastic masks, espadrilles sales, butternut squash soup on menus, and yes, even a sweater vest or two. But now it's official.

Fall is here.

So let's talk about summer.

What comes to mind when thinking back to those dog days...

Corn. Lots of corn.

It is to be expected since my roots grow from the Golden Buckle on the Corn Belt.

Aw, shucks.

Sunflowers.

Breakfast-homemade and out & about.

Good beer.

 

Eye patch not included...

Family & lake cabins.

And the fun that evolves.

Fireworks.

Kaboom.

Piers. 

 

Jersey Shore with remarkably warm waters.

 

Singing. Four voices as one.

As well as listening to others sing. Sing grand.

Travel. Lots.

Montreal.

And Vermont skies that left me speechless as to a proper color description.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer 2011, thank you for being a surprising, adventuresome, and healing summer surrounded by friends and family. 

Now, Fall, take the baton and RUN.