L is for lovely
I’ve had a very nice past 24 hours. Last night we not only got the good news about Petrie, but I also hooked up with one of my L friends (I have three). She has been passing down her daughters’ clothes to me and somehow she always gets me a new batch just when I think Madison will have to go naked if I don’t go shopping. And L. has stellar taste (although more pink than I might choose myself) so I am happy for her hand-me-downs. (New-to-us purple Robeez in last night’s batch!)
I met L. 6+ years ago on the phone. A mutual friend told L. to call me for some reason and we ended up talking on the phone for hours. It was the same kind of fireworks (minus the sex appeal) that I had the first time Brett and I talked. We just clicked like crazy. When we finally met in person it was almost awkward because we had already had these great phone conversations but really we were strangers. I expected her to be blonde for some reason. Blonde with long straight hair and she is a decided brunette with short, curly hair. Go figure. She probably thought I sounded thin. In any case, she looked just as surprised to see me for the first time as I was to see her.
In some ways we are absolutely nothing alike. Mostly these are superficial ways and I’m trying to think of a short-hand way of making sense of our differences to you. Hmmm. OK, I’ve got it.
Her crush: Josh Hartnett.
My crush: Alan Cumming.
Her décor: Mary Engelbreit, color coordinated silk flower arrangements and resin figurines (that are rotated seasonally).
My décor: Richard McGuire New Yorker cover, trash-picked furniture and old books.
She makes pancakes: with Bisquick.
I make pancakes: with whole wheat flour.
Her cleaning routine: Two hours daily with very strong chemicals and Fridays set aside for big jobs. Her house sparkles!
My cleaning routine: I know the kitchen needs mopping but we’re replacing the floor in a month or so anyway so I’m sure it can wait. I have dust bunnies that are bigger than Madison.
Her political position: leans conservative.
My political position: staunchly liberal.
As you can see, we come from different worlds. She is also extremely wealthy and I — well, I am not. Because of these things, people are often surprised that we’re friends but I count her as one of my very best friends. She is ridiculously smart although people somehow miss this about her. A conversation with her is an intellectual aerobic work-out, which is what I told her last night. She laughed; she doesn’t think she’s that smart but she is, dammit, smart as hell. Her synapses go off like a string of firecrackers and she changes subjects so quickly that I’m breathless. We get together and we’re reworking the entire world before we’ve even taken off our coats. Also, she is brutally honest with herself and I admire that. She’s one of the bravest people I know although she would be surprised to hear me say that, too.
Talking to her is always inspiring but also comforting and it made me very happy last night, which permeated today, too.
Now playing on iTunes: “Cancion De Cuna [Cuba]” from the album On A Starry Night by Eliot Fisk
Did you sign up for the contest at Robeez?
Sounds like an awesome friendship!
But — Josh Hartnett!?
OHMYGOSH! I never remember Alan Cumming when thinking about the “hottie list”, but he’s certainly a candidate. I feel like I’m in need of retiring Johnny Depp. For a while Steve from Blue’s Clues was on my list, and that Alan dude from Sesame Street. Yes, I’m weird!