Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Good Friends


I'd love to write an extremely poetic, beautiful post about friendship. The kind that makes you smile, and cry, and laugh all at once, about all the blessings and carrying and loving and kindness that true friendships bring... the kind that leaves you warm and fuzzy. But, I'm still too tired for all that thinking and constructing sentences. The truth is, chickadee is just that kind of friend. One worthy of such a fuss. But what actually made me suddenly consider the evolution of our friendship (we've only known each other for about 3 years) was something she said about a week ago. And I'm laughing at the thought of her opening my post to find her own picture and a post about her! I'd have a fit if it was me she broadcasted on her blog. But that's the whole point of the post.....we are officially at a point in our friendship that I can do it and she'll still love me whether she likes it or not. I think. **evilish grin**

I was having a terrible day. Really. It was the day after (or 2? I can't remember) being up all night with a violently throwing up baby. Ok, so she's 4. But I can call her baby if I want. Just try and stop me. Might I remind you I am a martial artist. Anyway, the house was a wreck. Complete with dishes still out on the bar, blankets and toys and colors strewn through the living room. I had fully intended to attend our home school group's meeting that afternoon, but by 11 when one kid had peed in about 5 pair of panties and another was relentless in her barking/yelling orders at everyone I changed my mind. Keep in mind, outings seem to shift my RADling into high gear with the indiscriminate affection and charming that everyone else seems to love but drives me crazy. Yes, I like run-on sentences. It's my blog, thank you. Take into account that I had already dressed everyone, fixed their hair and put shoes on them only for them to look like orphans and needing to do it all over again before we left, and well, I just figured it would be easier to stay at home. My friend called, and pushed me to go. I finally outed (with a whine I'm sure equal to the kind I've been complaining about from my kids) to her that, "I've got one that can't pee on the potty, and one that won't stop screaming!" Without so much as a second to contemplate, my friend laughed at me. She lovingly (kind of) said, "Well, I can fix that, I'll bring a diaper and some tape!"

Despite her ability to fix all my problems, I still insisted on staying on my couch. So, she came and picked up my older two girls and toted them all around town to their art lessons and the group meeting, and even stopped and got them some ice cream. While I and the little ones napped. Isn't that sweet? But she ruined it when she came in my house and didn't just ignore the mess. "Good grief." She said. "The kids need to play orphan at your house like they do at mine, and clean this place up." And that sealed it for me. Because you see, it wasn't really a slam (right?) .... no one but a true friend is that brave. Only true friends can say that kind of thing to each other. Or maybe it's just cause she's pregnant.


7 comments:

hsmomma said...

So,naturally, I am thinking about "Annie" now....LOL

Aren't friends like that the greatest? The real ones are the ones who show up when you need them the most--and gently snap you back into reality, or whatever you want to call it!

I love the group of women in our homeschool group. Some are acquaintances to me and some are more like sisters to me, but in some way or another they are all friends to me.

I'll never forget one of them coming to get my kids for an entire day last year while I was struggling with depression and was a complete wreck. You know as well as I do, when you have as many kids as us, you don't have people standing in line to come and get all of your kids for the day! That really meant something. Another has been my friend longer than I have homeschooled and I know I could depend on her for ANYTHING. It's like a bonus--homeschooling support AND good friends!

Melissa Stover said...

i'm just about to cry because i have been thinking about that rude comment since i made it and wondered if you had been crying about it ever since. i really have a gift of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Melissa Stover said...

but then again the fact that you blogged about it in a sweet way makes me want to cry too. hey, i'm hormonal.

Melissa Stover said...

one more thing: also, when i opened up your blog and saw myself you wouldn't believe how red my face got.

and "we are officially at a point in our friendship that I can do it and she'll still love me whether she likes it or not."
absolutely. you can even tell me i need to clean my own house and stop bugging you about yours.

annieology said...

The 'looking like orphans' thing is why I'm glad I was blessed with boys. Can you say 'crew cut'? Princess always looks like an accident victim.

Good friends rock. I also like Chicadee cuz she found me and that's how I found you.

I also like friends who always have a spot on their couch for when you feel like curling up in the fetal position and crying like a baby.

Jennifer said...

Great friends are hard to come by!! What a wonderful story! I also think your kids need to teach my kids about the "helping out cleaning thing" you got going on! I don't have as many as you, but mine are pretty destructive!! Take care...oh and I have a few more things for ya, so I'll probably be stopping by in the near future, so beware and have a brush and ponytail holders handy this time! LOL!

Anonymous said...

hahaha!!I love it!