Showing the private side.......

On this blog 99% of the time I show my "public" side with my writings - the (hopefully) funny, passionate and feisty side. Sometimes, though rarely, I'm moved enough to reveal the private side that few get to see - the more vulnerable, introspective and deeply feeling side. Today is one of those days, and for Julie I will be brave enough to publicly show it.

Today is a little shout out on Easter to one of my dearest friends - Julie Price - on our friend anniversary. :)

Jules and I met the first year I was living in Los Angeles. I was 23 years old. I'd been there only a few months, was still trying to feel my way around a new city and state, I didn't really know anyone, I was job hunting, living out of my car, and was completely alone. It was Easter and, having nothing else to do, after Mass I went to the gym in Manhattan Beach for a workout. While at the gym I struck up a conversation with a sweet girl about my age named Maggie who was wearing a light blue UNC t-shirt. (Clearly this had to be a person of quality wearing such a shirt!) After hearing I had no plans, Maggie invited me to her apartment across the street where she and her roommate, Julie, were having a casual Easter brunch... "Turkey and Pie", Maggie had said.

I confirmed several times that she didn't mind bringing a stranger to her home ("Do you need to call and ask your roommate if it's ok that I come over?") ... I mean, this was Los Angeles after all. Maggie must have sensed I wasn't a serial killer and, bless her heart, insisted I come with her. I was appreciative of the invitation; I was admittedly feeling pretty lonely.

We strolled into the apartment and there was Julie pulling a huge bird out of the oven. (The ongoing joke we have about this day is that we actually had "turkey and pie" - nothing else. No side dishes. No veggies. No potatoes. Just turkey, and pie for dessert. Classic.) Little did I know this gal was going to become my friend for the rest of my life.

Jules and I connected instantly. She was bubbly and extremely friendly, and I don't think said a single sentence without a smile on her face. She was (is) the nicest person, ever. That night Julie and I totally bonded. We stayed up talking until after Midnight -- and frankly never stopped. She was one of the people closest to me the entire 8-years I lived in LA, and we have remained in each other's lives since I left. We don't get to talk as often as we'd like, but when we do, we always resume right where we left off as if no time has lapsed and no distance has separated us. I love that about us.

....and each year, no matter which respective state we're living in (she is now in FL, I am in CO), there will always be a message on one of our voicemails on Easter day - she will call me or I'll beat her to it and call her, reciting our phrase: "Happy friend anniversary! I love you and miss you!" We are both reminded of this fateful day, more than 15 years ago, when we met and became lifelong friends, over turkey and pie, in a small apartment in Manhattan Beach, CA on Easter.

Today I am giving her a very public shout out: Julie - you are one of the best friends anyone could be lucky enough to have. You were my faithful partner in crime - more than saving my sanity, counseling me through different jobs & boyfriend breakups & my varied goals & life's daily ups and downs, while always making me laugh - when we lived in Los Angeles....and you continue to be a shining light of love in my life as our years go on.
Happy friend anniversary, sweet you.
xo.