With love, C

I've never had a lot of friends. That's not to say I've been friendless or a loner. I've just never had a huge, giganto group of friends. I've always had a few close friends and a best friend and that's been enough. But somehow, as I get older, I've found that even some of these close friendships have gone by the wayside. Maybe it's because I'm too busy to give them the attention and nuturing that all friendships need to thrive. Maybe it's because when you grow older you sometimes also grow apart. Maybe it's that people move around so much that it can be hard to sustain long-distance friendships. Whatever the case may be, I can count my good friends on one hand - maybe even one hand minus a pinky finger.

And yet, once in a while I will meet someone and think, this person and I have the potential to be great friends. And I get excited. (Because like I said, I can count my friends on one hand minus a pinky finger.)

When I met A a few years ago, I knew we would become friends.

I know you don't know A, but if you did know her, you would like her. I know it. First of all, she is just a nice, nice person. And lemme tell you, nice people - sincerely nice people - can be hard to come by. She is so nice that at first I thought it was an act. But as I got to know her, I realized that it wasn't an act, she is just, honest-to-goodness nice. She's the type of person you know would never say one mean word behind your back or behind anyone else's back. You can trust her, and that means a lot to me.

Secondly, she's a fantastic mom and gives me great mothering advice without being all preachy. And she only gives out the advice when I ask for it. And she runs her own daycare out of her home so she can stay home with her two kiddies. That fact alone qualifies her for Mom of the Year in my book.

Third, we always seem to be on the same page with stuff. Take politics. She thinks that this site is awesome. And so do I. 'Nuff said.

And finally, she can make me laugh, which is imperative in a good friend. Case in point: Read this, which she e-mailed me today. Really, go read it. You will be laughing. Hard. Guaranteed.*

But I must say that despite all of her good qualities, there is one reason I don't like A. And I hate to hate such a nice person, but here's the thing - just as we're getting to be good friends, just as I'm starting to visualize our little boys growing up together and us getting together regularly for coffees and talking about our relationships and doing fun no-husband-or-kids-allowed girly things like pedicures and stuff, just when I'm starting to settle in to a really nice, cozy friendship...

she fucking leaves me.

Yeah, that's right, she leaves. Moves clear across the country with her husband, two kids, and her cat to find affordable fucking housing. As if it's soooo important to have a roof over your head. Sheesh, some people! And in the meantime, what about ME? What about our coffees and our pedicures and our little boys growing up together?? What about that? Huh?

But in reality, it's OK, cuz I wouldn't want her stuck here in an apartment with two kiddies, a cat, and a husband just so she could be close to me. And I'm sooo glad she didn't do that. (Cuz I just know she was tempted. I know it.) But really, I WANT her to have a house she can afford. It just sucks that she had to go to another state to find one. But we do still keep in touch and try to do the long-distance friend thing. So it's really OK.

But here's the news. The news I'm totally excited about.

She just started a blog. A blog!! She is my first actual in-the-flesh friend that has started a blog.

And here it is: Red Rollerskate

Please go pay her a visit. And tell her I said "Hi" and that housing prices are taking a dive in California so she should move back here immediately. Or else.

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This post was written in response to Chicky Chicky Baby's lovefest post in which she asked bloggers to write about a blogger they love.

*Edited to add: RR just informed that this was originally posted by Mom-o-Matic, another funny, funny blogger. Thank you for the laugh, M-o-M!