The experiences and exploits of a college grad trying to make it in the "real world:" leaving school and friends in New England, moving south, and living with her boyfriend. Watch as I pretend to be an adult.
Continuing my attempt to describe the people in my life.
Everyone needs a rock in their life. No, I don't mean a big shiny diamond- though I wouldn't turn that down either. I mean a friend who is always 100% there for you. The kind of person you can call at 3 am for a ride when you decided staying at the party to chat up that hottie was more important than catching the last taxi/bus back to your place- they'll make you drink water, put you to bed, and bring you Gatorade and hangover food the next day when you're huddled on the couch wishing the carpet would stop being so damn noisy.
I'm lucky enough to have three of them- Karen, Laurie and Steve.
I met Karen Freshman year, she was a fellow biotapper. We hung out maybe twice those first couple semesters, partly because of a 22nd floor/21st floor split, but mostly because I was pretty against socializing with the people I already lived and went to 90% of my classes with. Call me crazy.
We started hanging out sophomore year when we had Orgo together, and before I knew it we were getting an apartment in Squire with Lee. Good old apt 43, we had some fun times there- though Karen was rather conspicuously absent most of the time, due to a next-door boyfriend. After it was time to leave 43, Karen and I moved into a four bedroom with her boyfriend and his best friend. The relationship didn't last much into the summer, but their breakup meant Karen had more time to spend making and keeping up friendships. Before we'd been friends who hung out a lot, but not roommates, or later roommates who didn't hang out that much. After the breakup we turned into the roommates I laughed at freshman year- you know, the ones who had to be "best friends." Only we didn't have to be, we just kinda grew into it. Karen is one of the most caring friends I've ever had- I can't count the number of times she's helped me out or been there for me. I helped her get through her breakup, and she repaid me a hundred times by being there when my mom died. And, even more than that, she was an awesome roommate- my favorite ever. While I've never had that "roomie from hell," (Well, Justen came close) no one has ever measured up to Karen.
Around that same late summer early fall I started realizing we had some pretty cool neighbors.
Laurie and Steve lived in the two bedroom next door to us. At first I was a little wary of getting to know them. With Karen and Justen's recent breakup, starting up a friendship with another couple seemed a bit risky, and, well- the dynamic is always different when you hang out with a couple, especially one that's as "together" as Laurie and Steve are. Looking back, I almost want to kick myself for thinking like that in the beginning, because Laurie and Steve are awesome. They just are.
Laurie and Steve are some of the most giving people ever. Laurie is the ultimate mommy- she will feed anyone who even looks like they're thinking about being hungry, she's always there with a hug when you're even a little bit upset, and she'll move mountains to help you if you need it. Steve is like the big brother you always wanted- he can fix just about anything, he'll kill bugs and move heavy stuff when your boyfriend's not around, and on top of it, he's a great listener. Put the two of them together and I swear it is impossible to stay upset about anything. If they can't fix your problem, they'll talk to you and stuff you with junk food until you cheer up.
In the months after my mom died, Laurie and Steve's place was a sanctuary for me. A cluttered, furry sanctuary full of cat toys and way, way too much food, granted- but one none the less. Karen and I spent a couple hours a day over there at least four times a week, usually just hanging out in their living room doing homework, talking, or watching TV. There was literally a worn path from our front door to theirs. Without their company and friendship, I never would been able to deal as well as I did. I have such great memories of dinners, study marathons, and watching great early afternoon shows like Judge Mathis. And B5. Oh god, the hours of B5- they sucked me in. I couldn't help it!!!
I have so much to thank those three for: countless computer repairs, help moving, a place to stay the summer after graduation, "Mental health" chat and snack sessions, more food than I even want to think about, introducing me to Elija, and a thousand little gestures. I'll never forget how wonderful Laurie and Karen were the night I found out my mom died and I had to drive back to Virginia. I was a mess- I knew I had to do all these things but I was so shakey and dazed I could barely focus on shoving a few clothes and toiletries in a duffel bag. I sat in front of Karen's computer (mine was on the fritz again) and tried to compose a letter to my professors. I finally punched out a few words and sent a (probably highly disjointed) email off into cyberspace, and went downstairs to collect my keys and head off. Laurie and Karen were waiting in the kitchen for me with a bag of "goodies" perfect for a late night drive: Soda, candy, crackers, you name it. They each gave me a big hug, and made me promise to call them if I felt like I was getting sleepy. Touched, I grabbed my snacks and headed off. I got about 15 minutes down the road when I realized I had a date with Elija scheduled the next day. I wasn't going to be near a computer until I got down into Florida, and the thought of having to explain why I couldn't make it over the phone, well- I was barely holding it together as it was. There was no way I could call a guy I'd been seeing for three weeks and tell him my mom had died. I knew I'd end up an incoherent, bawling mess on the phone, and neither of us needed that. So, I called Karen and Laurie. Could Laurie IM Elija and explain I was going to be out of town for a while, and why? No problem, they'd be happy to.
What amazing friends! Now all I need to do is get them down to Raleigh, and we can all get houses next door to each other. And, well, it may be mushy, but this song is just too perfect.
What I'm listening to: Barenaked Ladies, Old Apartment
After 22 posted at 9:18 PM
