Amazing people in my life

People are amazing. Sometimes we get caught up in the hate, the gossip, the drama and forget. But I've been reminded constantly lately how amazing people are. 

Like my Mom, who always seems to sense when I'm the most stressed out and tells me to come stay at her place for a couple of nights. Mom, who will sleep on the pull-out couch to stay with Chloe so I can get a full night's sleep alone in the spare room. Mom's who's bought me so many things I've needed lately but couldn't afford. Mom who stayed with us when I got out of the hospital and took care of Chloe, cooked meals, bought groceries, did the dishes, scrubbed floors and made my recovery so much easier. 

And Chloe's other grandmother who is very nice about babysitting when I need her help. 

And there's my grandfather - who can't speak very many coherent words, but still his face lights up every time he sees me and Chloe. My grandfather who made it clear that he wants to buy us a stroller for Christmas because we don't have one yet. 

And when I had my toothache and didn't have enough money to cover my emergency appointment, both Mom's boyfriend and my friend S. immediately offered to lend me the money. 

S. who bailed me out when I got my flat tire, the day before my birthday. Who, as a birthday present, fixed all the things wrong with my car. S. who offers to come visit just to do my dishes and help me clean when I feel like I can't keep up. S. who altered Chloe's Halloween costume so she'd have something that fit. S. who's helped me out so much lately that I can't even begin to list it all. 

A. who, without me asking, got in contact with a nurse to find out what to do if Chloe didn't poop when I switched her to formula, and immediately called to tell me what they said. A, who lives too far away to physically be here but lets me know that she would do anything she could.

S. who had all kinds of presents and cards for me and Chloe for my birthday, Halloween, and Chloe's birth.

And C., who is the sister of a friend of mine, who called me yesterday to say they had some baby clothes given to them and thought of me to give them to. 

Yeah, there are a ton of amazing people in my life. My only complaint is that most of them live too far away. 

My Best Friend

My best friend - Day 6

I am one of those lucky people. In a way.

I don't have a lot of friends and acquaintances. I don't have someone that I can say tp 'Let's go out for coffee?' or something short notice like that. It leaves me a bit more bored and lonely than I'd like to admit at times.

But that's okay. I don't need a lot of friends. I am more better off than that. I have best friends, and I have more than one. I haven't given all of my best friends the recognition they deserve, but still I'm going to focus on just one friend, simply because we are being reunited this weekend.

I have introduced A. before. This is her blog, and this is the story of how we met.

So this is A. One of my closest friends for the past few years.

At first it was all just fun. We'd go out for random coffee dates or movie dates when we still lived in the same city. Now, sadly, we live two hours (and an expensive bridge drive) away from each other and our visits are a lot less often.

But no matter how little we see each other or even how little we talk, she's there for me no matter what. She's one of those friends where when something's wrong, I don't need to call her to talk because she'll find out, and she'll try to get a hold of me first. She'll listen to me complain about anything, no matter how redundant it is, and will still listen to every word and give me great advice afterwards. She's the one person I can vent to, without worrying about her judging me, or spreading it around.

She's the most forgiving person I've ever met. No matter how much someone hurts her, she can still forgive them in the end and still treat them like they are her best friend. She so often takes on the role of 'the bigger person' and will still be genuinely friendly to someone she knows doesn't like her, or says things behind her back. I truly admire her for this, because I could never do it. She's got a heart of gold.

She the type that cares more about her family and friends than trivial things. She's going to make an amazing mother today, and already is a great teacher. I'm so lucky to have her in my life.

Day 01 – Introduce yourself

Day 02 – Your first love

Day 03 – Your family

Day 04 – What you ate today

Day 05 – This week

The Story of Us

You might expect this to be some cute little love story about me and my boyfriend. Yeah, right. I'm not really the mushy-romantic type. I am, however, somewhat of the friendship-mushy type. I know a good thing when I see it, and this here, is a very good thing.

Let me introduce to you, my best friend. Her name is A. Well, obviously not just A., but that's how she will be named. We met in the cold, dark winter of 2006.

2006

There are not very many pictures in 2006, because as you know, winter 2006 quickly turns into the new year of 2007. We met through a mutual friend, they met in college. Me and A. bonded over Sour Puss shots while she let me borrow her roommate's awesome purple shirt. 

2007

I went to her sorority's ball with her and a bunch of friends. She hooked me up with the first pain-in-the-ass that I dated for a couple of months. No details needed there.

We had many drinks & good times in our first year of love friendship.There was lots of drama, some ups and downs. We also became neighbors that year! I was first floor, and she was third floor in our creepy Fredericton apartment building. Her place was newer/nicer than mine. Kind of unfair, if you ask me.

2008

In 2008 we became much closer. We also celebrated St. Patrick's Day - barely (I was in bed by 10:30 - honest, there's no 'got-too-drunk' story there, I was just really tired).

We hit up another sorority ball! We even became roommates for a month. And when I say roommates, I mean she pulled a mattress into my bedroom, piled her things ceiling high in my corner (no lie!), and woke me up almost daily to her Britney Spears ringtone (grr).

Then something horrible happened! 

I moved away to my little island, putting 2 hours distance between us at best. Four hours when she was in school all year! But we had many amazing visits.

We also wore crowns for birthday celebrations - A'.s birthday 2008

2009

A's birthday 2009, also the year we traded photo ID's thinking we were being funny. The bouncer did not agree.

In 2009 she got engaged! Just figured I'd throw that fact in there.

2010

Now that I've given you a quick peek through our years of alcoholism & friendship, I'm going to tell you why I love my best friend, in pictures.

Because she's a hottie.

Because she takes awesome pictures with me at the dollar store.

Because we don't have to plan things, we just know (that it's going to be a green shirt/black pants day, aparently)

Because she drinks like a champ!

Because she's okay with looking like idiots together.

Because she washes my car.

She loves my nephew.

She introduced me to her fiance, R., who is now also one of my best friends.

So yeah.. she's pretty great. Definitely worth blowing up a couple hundred balloons for.