friends

you don’t have to see them everyday to know they’re there. you don’t have to test them repeatedly to know that you could if you needed to. you don’t have to laugh at everything they say, or eat everything they cook. you can be allergic to their pets, or to the foods they eat, so they can’t always kiss you goodbye. you don’t have to know all their family members to know that you’re one too. you don’t have to call them sisters, to feel just as close.
what you do have to do, is appreciate any time you get with them, because the fact that your lives, relationships, careers, and goals are all different makes everything you have in common–even if it’s just your differences–and everything you do together more special…more real.
what you do have to give them is your respect, your understanding, and anything else they ask for that’s in your power to give. they’re your family away from home. you don’t have to always get along in order to be close, or agree in order to get along. you just have to love them–tell them, if you have the words, show them if you don’t..and realize that chances are, they’re taking care of you at times when you don’t even realize. give thanks for them, and cherish them, as they do you when you have no idea you’ve even crossed their minds.
for as long as you’re lucky to have them…show them how lucky you feel that, at least a small part of them, for a fraction of time, is there for you.

funnies

…every now & then somebody i know says something that makes me giggle, if not fall over laughing altogether, and i write it down in a book i keep with me at all times. i’m lucky enough to be surrounded by, and related to some of the funniest people in the world. i laugh often. i’ve listed examples below…

short conversation between my aunt, who was expressing interest in learning spanish, and my grandmother who either wants or provides an answer to everything:
aunt laura: boing boing (she was destroying the spanish phrase, “muy bien.”)
my grandmother: mm!! you need to get ‘Roberta Stone.’
aunt laura: uh, is that Rosetta’s sister?

later the same night:
me to grandmother: muy bien
grandmother: …what is that?
me: very good
grandmother: but, what is it?
me: spanish
grandmother (a little louder): but what is it?!
me: muy bien
grandmother, (after a minute, very quietly): but what IS that?
i stop the conversation here. grandmother later explains that she thought ‘muy bien‘ was a spanish food that i thought was very good, and that apparently, i just didn’t feel like telling her what was in it.

lesson in love from my grandmother:
grandmother: you should never go a day without talking to your husband.
aunt joanne: do you talk to yours everyday?
grandmother (chin raised, eyes closed, with an aura of wisdom about her): nope–we use ‘mental celebrithee’.
a couple of people witnessed this conversation with me, but personally, i know for a fact, that because of this incident, i will never say ‘mental telepathy’ again.

part of conversation between me and coworker/friend lissette:
me: i don’t use a blowdryer–i let my hair air dry.
lissette (who speaks very quickly, with a slight spanish accent): no, i can’t not dry my hair. seriously, i’ve tried–i look just like a broccoli.

my friend susan (the editor) and i…talking about fonts…and fruit?
susan: …you know–helvetica–you’re not familiar with that font??
me: no. are you familiar with papyrus??
susan (matter-of-factly): …well yeah, the fruit–not the font. papyrus is the plural for papaya.

friend susan was telling me about someone’s motto…and she drifted:
susan: “until i’m satisfied, you’re not done.” but that’s not my motto–when you’re satisfied, i’m done…or, when you’re done, i’m satisfied–either way, you’re gonna be done and satisfied!

anonymous friend to me: i’ve been snapping bras since you were just a ‘fetae‘.

a classic from my friend shonta, when discussing the fact that male college athletes often receive special treatment academically. (stated very passionately): i don’t think any of them should get ’special prefforations!!!”

one of my friend dee’s best quotes: it never ceases to fail.

…i’m sure i’ll add to this list as time…life goes on…