7:05 pm. I'm hitting speed dial 4 on my phone. It usually takes about 6 rings... she's not very prompt on phone answering but by 7:10 most nights lately we've both given the highlight reel from our day. That's our version of Rock Paper Scissors. The winner gets to dominate the first hour or more of conversation on a bad day. The loser, will wait and fill in their story at the end of the conversation or the next day depending on how the drama of the day went.
We didn't talk for years. I usually describe it as "we grew apart" but the truth of the matter is our paths were very different for a long time but eerily the same too. Now we're both in a household of three, the youngest of which is usually trying to escape a diaper change if we're talking before 8 pm.
The magic part is how we never run out of things to talk about and how we don't mind if it isn't our turn to talk. It's so not third grade but it's filled with all the comfort and ease of an elementary school playground friendship. We talk about nothing and everything, switching back and forth with skill the greatest sitcom could not master.
Abraham Lincoln. Board games. Diaper brands. Family crisis. Paychecks. Lack of paychecks. Phone bills. Uncle Bill. 4th grade. Bubble gum. Recipes for Rack of Rib. Cookie Preferences. (6 minutes later)....
"let me call you right back"... or sometimes just "oh shit kid" which is Far Away BFF for I'll call you when I can I just developed a case of terrible twos. We know when the house phone rings it's probably my mother and that when someone starts repeating what you're saying a significant other is giving them a funny look from the couch.
It's odd how who we are now slipped so easily back into who we used to be. And, it's odd how it happened just when we needed it most. Through me she found a better relationship with God and someone to call to celebrate when the baby drew a perfect letter P. Through her I found my confidence to tell people off again (and while that doesn't sound important boy let me tell you when it's missing it's like losing your voice) and someone to call mid day when the drama boils up around me.
It's beautiful how God lets us find ourselves through redefining our relationship with others.
2 comments:
I heart you!
I cant WAIT for the yard sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can you tell I am excitied about it?!?!?!?! I even got the friends with the truck ready to go since i told them about the end tables.
Post a Comment