Old Friends

Today I visited my oldest and dearest friend Eileen. We hadn’t seen each other since this summer, only about a month after her baby, Eli, was born. It seems silly, considering we only live about an hour apart—she lives in Aurora, I live in the city—but sometimes life just gets in the way of getting together. (That and the fact that until recently, I worked in a bar and she has a normal human being’s schedule.)

Eileen and I first met standing in line to go outside for recess in elementary school. We had the exact same coat. It was destiny.

Although sometimes we go six months without seeing each other, it doesn’t really matter. Not that I wouldn’t love to see her more often, of course I would. But it really doesn’t matter because, like we talked about tonight, we’ve known each for so long, and we know each other so well, that we can always pick up a conversation like we just saw each other yesterday. Plus, we laugh our asses off every time we’re together. What’s so funny, I’m not really sure. But it’s pretty damn terrific.

One of Eileen’s greatest qualities is how she makes everyone around her feel happy. You can see that just by being around her and her wonderful husband Aron, or the way her son’s eyes light up every time she looks at him. She always, always, always, looks for a positive note in everything in life. It’s therapeutic for me to be around her. I seriously drove the entire ride home with a big ass grin on my face.

And there’s really something to be said for being around a friend who, when I talk about my mom, not only knew her and understands what I’m saying, but gets a little teary eyed because she loved her too. Our moms were friends, too. My dad is still friends with hers. You get what I mean. She’s family.

I hope everyone has an Eileen in their lives.

Love ya, Bean.