Friends...

Friends are like clothing.  Some of our clothes are frequently used, some not nearly as often, but all have a place in our wardrobe.  High quality friends (like quality clothing) just have a way of making us feel good.  Our oldest & closest friends are like those staple items in your closet that you could never live without.  One might be that perfect old pair of jeans- they always fit, (on fat days or skinny days), you know exactly how they'll feel, and you can wear them for so many different occasions.  Another one might be your favorite hooded sweatshirt- it's been with you on some really bad days when you're down in the dumps, but also been there during a super fun night of laughing hysterically and drinking wine on the couch.  Then there's the little black dress- that perfect go-to piece you can always count on for a fun night out.  It helps boost your confidence- you know you look good, you're comfortable, and there's an ease about it.


These 'old' friends are something we've missed dearly over the last 20+ months of living in Claremont.  Don't get me wrong, the people we've met here are incredibly nice, friendly, and welcoming.  But as with clothing, the older we get, the harder it seems to shop.  I'm not sure if it's simply because we've changed over the years, or if we've just become more selective.  I remember the days of being able to spend hours on end at the mall, and loving so many things that it was hard to decide what to get.  Nowadays, I feel like nothing looks good on me!  I get tired more easily, and give up after a couple unsuccessful visits to the fitting room.  Those gems that we do find though, are new exciting pieces to add to our wardrobe, and somehow we're always able to make room in the closet for everyone.


Back in junior high, high school, and even college (or 'undergrad' as Mass would call it), the selection process was so easy.  Is this person fun?  Are we often in the same place at the same time?  Do I enjoy their company?  Great! We're best friends for life.  :)  Not all of those friendships still exist of course, but the ones that do, I truly believe will be our dear friends forever (and you know who you are).  Even when it comes time to move far away, you take your favorite pieces of clothing with you. For some reason, the process of shopping has become a bit more complicated.  Partly because there are now two of us (well three, if you include Mahoney), which means differing schedules, opinions & interests, and often we're spending time with other couples- what if you have a lot in common with one person, but not the other?  Interestingly enough, we've all grown and changed over the years, but with those old friends- the little black dress, the favorite pair of jeans, the hooded sweatshirt- we've grown to love and appreciate our new differences & lifestyles, because we have history. Roots. A foundation of friendship that (hopefully) won't ever be broken.


Needless to say, we've met some really great people here in Claremont, but we honestly haven't put in as much time & effort into our new friends as we probably should have.  It's going on 2 years now that we've been here, and we've definitely had some fun times with new friends, enjoyed various social gatherings & couple's dinners, but there's always been this little thought in the back of my mind that's afraid to get attached, because we don't know how long we'll be here.  In fact, some of our new friends have already moved away!  So does that mean we shouldn't make the effort, because soon we could be leaving again?  Regardless of the reasons, I'm now making a conscious decision not to worry about that, because friends just make life richer.


Our most recent addition- Sara & Anthony.  They've been Pilates clients of mine since November.  From day one, they were super easy to talk to.  They're fun, hilarious, and don't take life (or themselves) too seriously.  I can honestly say I've looked forward to every one of our sessions together.  Don't ask me why it took us 5 months to get together outside of the Pilates studio and introduce them to Mass, but it did.  Better late than never, right?  Absolutely.

Photo from dinner with Sara & Anthony