Big D

I headed to the Big D (and I do mean Dallas) this weekend to catch up with A. and M.

Oh the humanity involved in flying. But that's another post. Trust me that traveling with a "professional" cheerleading "team" and their MOTHERS warrants its own post.

A. and I met in law school. She was in my small section, and as we sat around on the first day scoping each other out, I thought--now she's cute. Looking at us on paper, one would wonder how we became such good friends. She cute and curly and skinny and flirtatious and trendy. I'm conservative in every sense of the word. We were fortunate enough to have the same walk home which led to some early conversations. Those conversations led to invitations and before we knew it, we counted on each other.

She has always brought out my fun side. Not because she demands a party wherever she goes but because she accepts me for exactly who I am. I am comfortable enough in my own skin to let down my guard around her and have a good time. And she's not afraid to hold a mirror to my face when I need it.

In the middle of the hive epidemic, we were on the way to class and were discussing what the cause could possibly be. I kept insisting that I was not stressed and she just stopped dead in her tracks and looked at me like I was crazy. She relayed conversations to me that we had in the previous weeks and forced me to admit that I was having a hard time handling everything.

When we graduated, she moved to Florida to study for the bar. We lived next door to each other at that point, and I still remember how sad as was as Etta and I watched her pull away in the ghetto blaster knowing that it was highly unlikely that we would ever live so close again.

Etta and I were lucky enough to have her come live with us about a year later for a few months. Then we had to repeat the driving away scene too soon.

About a year after that, I was on the way to Nashville when she called to let me know that M proposed. A year after that, they tied the knot and moved to Dallas.

I knew their marriage would be good, but my favorite part of the weekend was our conversation about how much better it was than she expected. "I knew M. would be a good husband, but he's a better husband than I ever expected" she said with tears in her eyes. This, from the girl who doesn't cry. I know it's been tough to leave the cocoon that Orlando provides for both of them, but they have certainly grown closer as a result.

And as hard as it was to walk away last night at the airport (as we both had tears in our eyes), I know without doubt that I have been blessed with a true friend of the heart. Just when I think my cup runneth over in that category, God blessed me again.