Texas

Sadie and I had some great girl bonding time during a weekend trip to Texas to visit the Cricchios in San Antonio.  Katie Tickner, who now lives in Oregon, flew out as well.  Cricchio and Katie did an overnight group race the night before we flew in.  Sadie and I flew in on Saturday, just after their race.  It was fantastic to see our old friends!  Sadie and Andrew played together beautifully!  It was like we had never been apart.

Cricchio, Katie, and I have interesting relationships. Honestly, we’re each quite different from one another – Cricchio is crafty and laid back, Katie is driven and liberal, I’m…….conservative and traditional?  Interestingly, we three opposites were thrown together (Divine planning, I truly believe) into a small, crazy church ward during some of the most intense years of our lives.  In a 4 year span the three of us we had 7 babies. Intense! They didn’t have family in the area; I had family yet still felt far from them and isolated. I think we all felt drained and tested during those years.  It was a pretty raw relationship because we often saw each other at our worst – impatient with fussy kids, exhausted from sleepless nights, discouraged about postpartum body changes, and overwhelmed with the demands of motherhood.  We had totally joyful days, too – Katie teaching me how to wear makeup, Cricchio climbing through my car window 7 months pregnant to jump my car, our hilarious bookclub meetings, weekly playdates at the park, girls nights out, night runs, laughs about odd occurrences in Pasco, and calling each other in the middle of the night to babysit when we went into labor.  I really loved and needed those good laughs, their listening ears, and lightening experiences! So, I think I’ll always feel close to them in a unique way.  Together we shared a challenging and exciting season of our lives and I think we know a part of each other’s histories that not many others understand.

I learned so much from them!  Mostly I learned how to be a friend. It’s been quite lovely to be given a new beginning in Tampa. As I build new friendships I’m discovering just how much I learned from my interaction with Katie and Cricchio. There are mistakes I’m determined not to repeat, and an openness and generosity and helpfulness I’m trying to possess.

So, Cricchio, Tickner, and I – we’ll always be friends.  They’ve been some fabulous teachers and amazingly patient, fun friends!  It was great to catch up with them in a relaxed atmosphere and laugh about times gone by. Contrary to what I thought at the time, how quickly those times did go by!