old friends, new friends

had lunch with a friend whom i haven't seen in years today. years, meaning we first met freshman year of college. a lot's changed since then (cities, boyfriends, jobs), and it was sweet catching up. we've grown a lot since those crazy days, and we're certainly not the same anymore---better for it, of course.

with a familiar face that you don't see as often, you end up talking about things that you've had a good amount of time to reflect on. the one hour that i took for lunch with sarah today felt like a couple, until i realized that i had to go back to work. the best thing about my friendship with sarah is that it isn't forced.  we're not strung by attached strings, and i feel like we both understand and appreciate exactly what our friendship is. i wouldn't be surprised if i don't see her for another couple of years, but it'll be nice to pick up where we left off again, just as we did today.

tomorrow i'm having lunch with a newer friend, and her name is buffie.
met her on my flight to hawaii in january---buffie is without a doubt, so cool. i haven't known her for long, but i feel somewhat of a close connection with her. she travels often with her husband, who works for the nfl (they were in hawaii for the pro bowl), so we've been keeping in touch via email since that flight. she's wise, and has this young spirit about her.

on our flight she told me about her first job, her days around the world as a travel agent, how she picked up her lifelong belongings (two suitcases, no furniture) and decided to live in san francisco, a city on the opposite coast in which she knew no one but went because she "always wanted to live there." and how she met her husband ray (took the same bus one day and winked at him as she got off, which led him to ask her out days later.. she's got guts, this one), the struggles they had with their bi-racial marriage (buffie is white, ray is black), their two kids who now live and work in the city, things that inspire her, and the list goes on. her outlook on life inspires me to go after what i want. what i really want. she makes me want to take the risks that i hesitate to take, a good influence that i'm lucky to have even encountered. i think she's my guardian angel.

cheers to all kinds of friends, encounters old and new
xxmon