I walked with my #1 walking friend (the person I will walk with even when I don’t feel like it because I like her so much) and mentioned how she should come for coffee or lunch (easy salad). I left it up to her because she’s really busy. Her kids are high school aged and super busy. She also is still driving her daughter who is a freshman.
If my friend can do something, it’s rare, so I jump at the chance. In the nice-weather months, we probably walk once every 10 days or so.
We usually get along great
She’s a bit competitive or maybe it’s defensive when it comes to her kids but otherwise we get along great. I’ve learned how to manage my words carefully. Other than that, we have tons in common.
We’ve been to each other’s houses but it’s been years since she’s been here. My husband would not care if she was here but it’s the presence of him that makes it not fun.
The very few times hubby leaves, I don’t usually want to squeeze in a coffee, even if she could make it. I want the time alone. Also, like all moms know, I have too many things to do. It’s hard to give myself permission to enjoy something like having a friend over.
But I was super excited about her seeing my table (that I got over 2 1/2 years ago. It might have been 3 1/2 years ago). I was excited to show her all my TikTok samples. And I was looking forward to hanging out and having fun.
So glad I made it happen this week
So she came this morning at 9am. We never lack for things to discuss. This time, we took a trip down memory lane with some of the stuff from elementary school and a bit about middle school.
Her kids go to the high school one of mine went to so that was fun to discuss. I feel a little heartsick at times that my youngest didn’t go there. It’s another path that didn’t come to fruition like all the times we moved, and my kids didn’t end up going through school with their lovely friends. (They’ve been so lucky with friends everywhere we’ve lived.)
But I have to believe things happen for the best. Still, it’s hard to sometimes hear how great the school is when your kid didn’t go there.
Much-needed friend time
Alas, it was great. I ended up giving her a bunch of stuff which I also was happy about: some food, some TikTok samples. It was great. Living so far from family and not really seeing friends much, it’s rare I can do that. It was like my family and I would do if we lived nearby.
We ended up going to Goodwill
Another friend I go to Goodwill with called. While I didn’t answer, it shifted our conversation to Goodwill, and how the phone-caller friend and I went this week. I told coffee friend how I passed up two dresses that I should have gotten. It piqued her interest.
She is a Goodwill shopper but she and I only went once or twice together. She wanted to go for me to find the dresses. This was great because I had been thinking about them and wishing I got them.
She only had an hour but I drove so we were able to talk on the way there and back. We separated a bit in the store because I think she’s more of a solitary shopper from what I remembered before.
Also, my (undiagnosed) ADD/ADHD is a bit worse than usual when I’m there as I’m spinning around. I looked at the dresses and found one of them. She didn’t want it (too big) so I’m keeping it to resell.
Funny, because if I bought it the other day, it would have been 20% off but that’s okay. Glad to have found it. I couldn’t find the other dress. I couldn’t remember where I put it to look if it was still there.
So glad she found something
I found four things, one being that dress. The total was $8.29 because of the special-color tag sales. I’m thrilled because I will be listing all of these on Poshmark.
She bought a super cute tiny blazer for her daughter and a sweater for herself which was in bold, earth-tone color. I was glad she found things she liked.
Nothing done but the girls’ time was so needed
So even though I have dreams of lounging around my house, watching movies, etc., this morning or being super productive with all my to-dos, this was EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED. Yes, I’m probably on a shopper’s high too.
I must prioritize in-person friendships when I can.
Many of my good friends moved
My friend who was over on Sunday is moving out of the country as soon as she sells her condo, so I’ll keep maximizing seeing her until she leaves.
Two of my other good friends that I would get together with at each other’s houses also moved out of state.
So now I’ll really be down to my friend from today and one other friend who I really like but we don’t get together too often. She lost her son 5 years ago, and she also works in her and her husband’s business.
We were doing great getting together last year walking but haven’t in months. I must get back to having her over or walking. It would be very easy to have her over for even an hour (once we got in the habit again), especially on a weekend night, especially since the sports’ seasons are over for our family right now.
I’m going to make it happen within the next 30 days!