happy birthday Ang!
Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 06:17PM Angie Ras became my friend in junior high because she liked a guy in my ward (see Christmas formal picture on Kelly's post). It’s the honest truth, but, somehow that never mattered. The “guy” has long since been forgotten (along with quite a few others) and we have 19 years of friendship. A crazy number…can we possibly be so old?!
I wonder about some other tallies. How many mini chocolate Cadbury eggs have we eaten together? How many total hours have we spent on the phone? Weeks or months, I’m sure. Days & days of laughing, crying, whining, planning. Oh yes, we have concocted some classic plans in our time. Like the time she decided to help me get Jim (post break-up #1) back by convincing him to join our roadtrip to Utah. Yah, he came, but saw right through the “we need a travel clown” ruse (it was another year and a half before he caved). Nor did we fool her crush up north with our “drop by”. But, oh how we lauded our cleverness at the time.
Then there was the time when Jim invited us both on a weekend roadtrip to Luna with the lure of fishing. Ang wanted to fish. I could have cared less, but I wanted Jim. When he came for chauffer service that Saturday morning, Ras called in sick. I was livid & embarrassed at the time, but oh my was that a good day. She knew. Everyone needs a friend who knows.
So, today is Ras’s birthday, and I called her up on Tuesday to see about a celebratory Saturday breakfast.
Yes!
Any ideas on where you’d like to go?
Let’s do it at my house. I’ll make you guys breakfast.
Two egg omelette with mushrooms and gouda, please. No, wait, the point was to take you out, not to make you buy, cook, slave & clean.
But this is how Ras is. Once upon a time when I was not in the best of spirits (for like 6 months straight), Ras came over to clean and fold the laundry that was covering my bed, my floor, my Me. The clothes-ridden room was a small sign of a large funk that did not escape her notice. This was years ago, but something I will never forget.
Other things I’ll never forget about Ras:
- She laughs so hard & huge that she cries.
- She (& Vel!) surprised me by showing up at my mission farewell in Colorado. Beautiful, beautiful surprise….truly calmed my pre-mission jitters.
- She likes to take “sick days”.
- She likes to shop, but is enviably good with money.
- She likes to travel.
- She is exceptionally smart, Masters Degree and all.
- She loves her Justin & he loves her.
- She always knows the best spots for good eats.
- Her house is always perfect – not just in how it looks, but in the how it feels, which is sometimes more important. It’s just peaceful, calm. I love sitting on her big chairs to just talk & talk.
- there's so, so much more...but I need to save some stories for years to come!
Kelly & I were plotting to do a joint post, but my week has been manic, so we went solo instead. I didn't dig through my old pictures, but there are some fabulous ones on Kel's blog. 19 years of memories. Those are the best kinds of friendships by far...
So, Happy 33 Ras! I love that you always get to try the year on a few months before my turn.
Reader Comments (17)
The comfort of "girl friends" will carry all of us through many tough spaces. You are blessed to have so many. If I didn't know better than to be envious of your gang of cronies, I'd disguise myself, have a face lift, lipo suction, and beg to be a part of your crowd, but since that really won't work, I'll have to settle for being your "older" friend who happens to be your aunt.
And yes, Megan, you did grow up in the same family. Sometimes the differences in children are astounding, but also worth celebrating, and even laughing about in years to come. Hugs to all of you...
Remember DT when I turned 19? I cried that day because I thought I was too old. You guys wrapped a huge (dishwasher?) box and put it outside my door. I can't remember what was in it, but there were happy birthday signs all over it and made my transition to 19 that much easier.
I was laughing as I remembered how upset you were with me the morning I bowed out of the Luna trip. Little did you know I was doing it for your benefit.
The week after I got engaged you brought over a 3-ring notebook sectioned off with ideas for planning every aspect of the reception! I used that notebook as my personal wedding planner. And I recall the Sunday afternoon that you, Jim and Aidan came over to scope out the backyard and help us figure out how to create a ceiling of japanese lanterns, which turned out amazing. And the day of that reception half your family was over helping set up and decorate. Saving my mom from lots of stress!
Today's breakfast was fun. It's so naturally comfortable to sit with favorite girlfriends and fall back into that easy chit-chat about our lives. Sharing news. Good and not-as-good.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane! I love you!
heehee -ciao
I'm with Emily. Angie so has to start a blog. Our petition worked with your aunt Judy, do you think we'll have any luck here?
I loved this post. A true friend is somebody who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. Don't be too impressed, I didn't write that quote. But I love it just the same. 19 years of being friends...that says it all!
Jenny - I love that you are from here! You were quite the determined one to make it to 3. I had to be forced to go to Christmas formal my senior year...by my Japanese teacher, of all people. So funny to look back and wonder what the heck you were thinking.
Jordan - hi, I've been truly enjoying your blog for a while.
Sista #2 - anytime!
JoDee - So true, I think I have like three Angie blankets in my loft. She definitely has a sewing/crocheting talent. And I've always thought that you & Ras would have been great friends if time & place permitted.
As for you, Amy, I vividly remember the pants. They were my $80 Abercrombie light kaki cargo pants that I had just bought after my mission (I never spent that much money on clothes before). And you brought them back covered in mud that wouldn't come off. Good-bye to my pants. Luckily, I'm not one to get too mad and not forgive you! Material things, right? Besides, you've made it up to me by being my friend who talks to me everyday on the phone & listens to my life-story without getting too bored!