I had brunch with Lisa yesterday. The only time we’re usually able to get together these days is when we shop for groceries — and even that is rarely possible — so we usually go weeks without seeing each other.
She’s my best friend, so it sucks not to see her as often as in the “old days” years ago.
Needless to say, we’re both insanely excited about our trip to New Zealand this coming week. (It’s absolutely nuts that we have to fly to halfway ’round the globe to do stuff together, but we’ll take it!) NZ has been on both our bucket lists for a long time.
We went shopping to a couple places after our brunch so she could pick up items she’ll need for the trip, so we got to spend about two hours together — a RECORD amount of time for the past six months or so.
The last time Lisa and I spent appreciable, non-grocery time together was when we went to Ruby Beach and the Hoh Rainforest on the Olympic Peninsula last summer or fall. The last time before that was when we drove Helen (who we’re staying with in NZ) on the many-mile excursion across the North Cascades Highway Loop into eastern Washington to see Winthrop, and then Cle Elum on the way back.
That was two years ago! Jeez, Louise!
It appears we must make arrangements to “get outta Dodge” to get appreciable time together any more. She has so many responsibilities and irons in the fire that this is the only way it seems to happen any more. So, it’s good that I’m happy living alone and being autonomous. It’s probably my neurodiversity that allows me to be okay with occasional contact with friendly souls. This kind of thing would drive most other people crazy, I presume! Getting to see Lisa and other “close-to-my- heart-but absent-friends” always feels like Christmas to me!
(An aside: I’ve recently started putting dates with nearby-but-rarely-seen friends on my calendar, because otherwise it just never happens. Most recently, I’ve spent some quality time with Judi Cooper; when I get back, Jessie Richards and I will get together with Judi. We three are life-long friends who live close but I rarely see them. This needs to STOP! They came to my book signing event in Lakewood a couple months ago, but we didn’t get to interact much because I was presenting, so we’re calendaring our next get together!)
It will feel like Christmas-to-New-Year Day getting together with Helen again and meeting Deborah for the first time.
We’re soooo looking forward to hanging out in New Zealand with fun kiwis! Lisa and I acted like two grade school kids during brunch, grinning like mad over the approaching adventure. Our server probably thought we were high on something! This degree of anticipation is visible!!!
GOOD NEWS: I GET TO USE LISA’S LAPTOP IN NZ!
Lisa is taking her laptop along since she needs to be able to serve her web clients in real time if something goes haywire on their sites or they need something added, so I asked if I can use it occasionally to write blog posts if I get a Muse Hit (which often happens in the dead of night) and feel the need to blog. She said sure! So, I won’t be entirely PC-less while I’m there. Whew! That’s a relief!
I’m a writer!
I need to write like other people need to breathe!
This means you’ll probably hear from me while I’m away — more than just images from my phone. No guarantees, but the possibility exists. I may end up actually sleeping through the night while in NZ(a rarity here at my place). If that happens, there won’t be much opportunity during the day to write. We’re gonna be having experiences — when not nana napping — out-and-about and at Helen’s home. Roturoa Beach, Hobbiton, Weta Workshop, zoos, nearby beach, barbecue…
Oh, man! Can we go NOW?!
“Hold your horses, Kris. It won’t be long now!”
