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Now all I hear is smarmy innuendo.
"It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it." Really, David Beckham? Really? You're not even FROM California.
But that doesn't bother you at all, does it California? You don't mind stealing people, not one bit, do ya??? I've caught on to your sinister plan, California, and now I'm telling the world (or, at the very least, the 12 people who read this blog).
Let me explain:
Three months ago, the world was my oyster (OK, so it wasn't all bunny rabbits and rainbows, but for the sake of the story...) ... and then along came California and disrupted all the white fluffy clouds and perfectly bloomed flowers. You might be asking yourself, "how can a state 1,000 miles from your current location perform such a feat?" Very easily: it stole two of my nearests and dearests, that's how.
First,
JANELLE.
Janelle and I met in nursing school, which means we've been friends for a few minutes. We were as unlikely a pair as we were likely - we were both waitressing our way through a grueling accelerated nursing school program that strongly suggested you didn't do anything of that sort. We were both biology majors who intended on going to med school, but decided instead to pursue a more flexible and life-friendly nursing degree - and wanted to get it done in a short 13 months. We were both so busy we couldn't see straight. And, as fate would have it, we were both enrolled in the same psychology clinical in June, 2002.
I don't remember exactly how, but Janelle and I quickly became good friends. By August we had planned a 5-week, cross-country car trip - from Delaware to California and back (ironically enough), all in my little Mitsubishi Mirage. Because even at the young age of 23 I knew I was a special kind of OCD, non-sleep-necessitating, in-my-own-skull crazy, I gave Janelle the good warning that it was entirely possible she would never want to see me again after this adventure. Thankfully, it was a chance she was willing to take, and off we set on our escapade.
That trip across the US literally changed my life forever. For one, Janelle and I decided that after nursing school, we were moving to Boulder, Colorado - and we did. Secondly, after a long hiatus from talking to my high school sweetheart, I decided that since I was in his neck of the woods (Los Angeles) I would at least give him a buzz - a sparked conversation that eventually led to marriage. Lastly, somehow I managed to not scare Janelle away - and I got to know a truly wonderful person and friend.
In early 2003, Janelle and I moved to Boulder, became nurses, and had a ton of fun. We went out, we stayed in, we drank beer, we played cards, we camped, we skied, we hiked, we traveled - to Africa, even! - all in all, we had a blast. Eventually, we moved to Denver; eventually, John moved in with us; eventually, John and I bought a house and Janelle moved in with us; and eventually, Janelle moved on to her own place. The circle of life, right?
Over the years, Janelle and I have shared and lived so much together - and when I think back, I'm really astounded that someone like me could've become friends with someone as awesomely trustworthy and loyal as Janelle. She is one of those people who doesn't stand out in a crowd, but if you're lucky enough to call her friend, you've truly won. The distance she's willing to go for a friend is beyond measure; no amount of miles, money, or circumstance gets in her way. When I had my first baby girl, Janelle was there - ALL NIGHT EVEN! - and she was our first "nanny," even schlepping Tanner to med school classes with her (yes, med school - Janelle decided nursing wasn't really what she wanted after all, crazy girl!) She loves my family as her own, and we love her as ours. After all, she is our very own beloved Auntie Hannie!
It's all that med school business (that I've never been that keen on anyways ;) that dragged her across the desert to southern California (well, that, and California's general disregard for stealing people, of course). When I couldn't make it to her med school graduation, I was pretty sad. When she moved to San Diego in June (to start residency), I was really sad. When I think about the fact that she's committed to be far away from us for a LONG time, I'm definitely really very sad! But in a lot of ways, it's a happy sad. Janelle and I have been friends for a long time and have proven that our friendship can withstand the test of time and distance. There have been times we don't talk for weeks - maybe even months; there have been times she's lived forever away - in Egypt even! - but it never matters. I'm lucky enough to call her friend, no matter how far apart we are.
But I'm still pissed at California for taking her away.
That trip across the US literally changed my life forever. For one, Janelle and I decided that after nursing school, we were moving to Boulder, Colorado - and we did. Secondly, after a long hiatus from talking to my high school sweetheart, I decided that since I was in his neck of the woods (Los Angeles) I would at least give him a buzz - a sparked conversation that eventually led to marriage. Lastly, somehow I managed to not scare Janelle away - and I got to know a truly wonderful person and friend.
In early 2003, Janelle and I moved to Boulder, became nurses, and had a ton of fun. We went out, we stayed in, we drank beer, we played cards, we camped, we skied, we hiked, we traveled - to Africa, even! - all in all, we had a blast. Eventually, we moved to Denver; eventually, John moved in with us; eventually, John and I bought a house and Janelle moved in with us; and eventually, Janelle moved on to her own place. The circle of life, right?
Over the years, Janelle and I have shared and lived so much together - and when I think back, I'm really astounded that someone like me could've become friends with someone as awesomely trustworthy and loyal as Janelle. She is one of those people who doesn't stand out in a crowd, but if you're lucky enough to call her friend, you've truly won. The distance she's willing to go for a friend is beyond measure; no amount of miles, money, or circumstance gets in her way. When I had my first baby girl, Janelle was there - ALL NIGHT EVEN! - and she was our first "nanny," even schlepping Tanner to med school classes with her (yes, med school - Janelle decided nursing wasn't really what she wanted after all, crazy girl!) She loves my family as her own, and we love her as ours. After all, she is our very own beloved Auntie Hannie!
It's all that med school business (that I've never been that keen on anyways ;) that dragged her across the desert to southern California (well, that, and California's general disregard for stealing people, of course). When I couldn't make it to her med school graduation, I was pretty sad. When she moved to San Diego in June (to start residency), I was really sad. When I think about the fact that she's committed to be far away from us for a LONG time, I'm definitely really very sad! But in a lot of ways, it's a happy sad. Janelle and I have been friends for a long time and have proven that our friendship can withstand the test of time and distance. There have been times we don't talk for weeks - maybe even months; there have been times she's lived forever away - in Egypt even! - but it never matters. I'm lucky enough to call her friend, no matter how far apart we are.
But I'm still pissed at California for taking her away.
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| On top of the world.... Celebrating with Fanta after summiting Kili! |
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| Zany in Zanzibar. Janelle and I have been friends for so long that a lot of our best pictures are on good ol' 35mm. Pre-digital, baybee! :) |
Maybe I wasn't upset enough about Janelle - perhaps I didn't show enough emotion. For whatever reason, California didn't leave well enough alone and instead decided to go straight for the jugular.
This time,
JESSICA.
As if losing one best friend to the Pacific coast wasn't enough, California came and snatched my bestie Jess under the cover of darkness, right out from under my nose.
Jessica and I first met on 7W at the old 9th Avenue campus of the University of Colorado Hospital. When Jessica started as a new grad nurse in 2004, I was well into the first 18 months of my nursing career - which is to say, I had my head down and was bulling my way through the ginormous learning curve of nursing, and probably didn't give much heed to the three new grads that started that fall. After a bit of time, Jess and I were friendly and in the spring of 2005 I received a invite to her wedding - something only a few girls on our unit received. I was definitely flattered and asked if my then-fiance could attend - "No," Jess said, "it's a small wedding." (I will NEVER let her live that one down!)
After that, we gradually became better friends - like the kind of good friend you have at work, but not much more. I was married, Jess was married with a kiddo; I lived in east Denver, Jess lived in Evergreen (about an hour apart); we had lives and circles that rarely intersected. But we enjoyed working together and laughed - a bunch. Somewhere along the line, though, all that changed. I can't pinpoint when or how, but I DO vividly remember when she told me - before anyone else at work (I think!) - that she was pregnant with little Gabe. That's the stuff that only good friends do! From then on, the deal was sealed. We were destined to become besties.
We spent 2007 being ridiculously and miserably pregnant together - me with Tanner, her with Gabe (misery definitely loved company!) Jess helped me stumble through the motherhood-thang with my first little baby girl, giving me tips and pointers, laughing (with me) at my "failures," and supporting me when I needed it most. Over time, our husbands had to concede to unlimited texting plans, and by the time Gabe and Tanner were toddling around, we had set playdates every week - not only were WE best friends, but our kiddos were, too. It was so much fun!
It's funny, though, because the time from first meeting Jess to becoming besties just seems to blend. When my mom asked me a few weeks ago, "How long have you and Jess been friends?" I answered, "I dunno, a few years?" It wasn't until then that I really thought about it and realized that we hadn't just been friends, but we had been BEST FRIENDS, for almost five years. Where in the heck had that time gone? And why, now, did it seem so bitterly short?
The fact is that Jess and her family crept up and became my family - our family. My kids love her and her kids. Her kids love me and my kids. We rarely have more fun than when we are with Auntie Jess, Emma, and Gabe. So you can imagine my heartbreak when my (then) almost 4-year-old looked up at me, big hazel eyes full of quizzical confusion, and asked, "Mommy, why can't MY daddy get a job in California, too? Why can't we go with Emma and Gabe to California?" When I told her that was a great idea but it just couldn't be that way, her brow furrowed and she teared up. And that was the first night I had a complete and total sobbing breakdown that my best friend and her beautiful family were moving to San Luis Obispo to start a new chapter in their lives. I'm hoping that it lets up sometime soon because spending the day holding it all together gives me a big, fat, throbbing skull-ache.
Jess is my work friend turned mom friend turned best friend turned sister. From triathlons to cooking to laughing about the "finer points" of motherhood, that girl is woven into my life. Somehow, I made it into her coveted inner circle, and I know how blessed I am for it. The fact that she called me just over three weeks ago to say "it's a done deal, we're moving" seems surreal.
Even though we didn't see each other everyday, there is still a palpable difference now that she's closer to the ocean than the mountains, but we'll get through it - one text, phone call, and airplane ride at a time.
This time,
JESSICA.
As if losing one best friend to the Pacific coast wasn't enough, California came and snatched my bestie Jess under the cover of darkness, right out from under my nose.
Jessica and I first met on 7W at the old 9th Avenue campus of the University of Colorado Hospital. When Jessica started as a new grad nurse in 2004, I was well into the first 18 months of my nursing career - which is to say, I had my head down and was bulling my way through the ginormous learning curve of nursing, and probably didn't give much heed to the three new grads that started that fall. After a bit of time, Jess and I were friendly and in the spring of 2005 I received a invite to her wedding - something only a few girls on our unit received. I was definitely flattered and asked if my then-fiance could attend - "No," Jess said, "it's a small wedding." (I will NEVER let her live that one down!)
After that, we gradually became better friends - like the kind of good friend you have at work, but not much more. I was married, Jess was married with a kiddo; I lived in east Denver, Jess lived in Evergreen (about an hour apart); we had lives and circles that rarely intersected. But we enjoyed working together and laughed - a bunch. Somewhere along the line, though, all that changed. I can't pinpoint when or how, but I DO vividly remember when she told me - before anyone else at work (I think!) - that she was pregnant with little Gabe. That's the stuff that only good friends do! From then on, the deal was sealed. We were destined to become besties.
We spent 2007 being ridiculously and miserably pregnant together - me with Tanner, her with Gabe (misery definitely loved company!) Jess helped me stumble through the motherhood-thang with my first little baby girl, giving me tips and pointers, laughing (with me) at my "failures," and supporting me when I needed it most. Over time, our husbands had to concede to unlimited texting plans, and by the time Gabe and Tanner were toddling around, we had set playdates every week - not only were WE best friends, but our kiddos were, too. It was so much fun!
It's funny, though, because the time from first meeting Jess to becoming besties just seems to blend. When my mom asked me a few weeks ago, "How long have you and Jess been friends?" I answered, "I dunno, a few years?" It wasn't until then that I really thought about it and realized that we hadn't just been friends, but we had been BEST FRIENDS, for almost five years. Where in the heck had that time gone? And why, now, did it seem so bitterly short?
The fact is that Jess and her family crept up and became my family - our family. My kids love her and her kids. Her kids love me and my kids. We rarely have more fun than when we are with Auntie Jess, Emma, and Gabe. So you can imagine my heartbreak when my (then) almost 4-year-old looked up at me, big hazel eyes full of quizzical confusion, and asked, "Mommy, why can't MY daddy get a job in California, too? Why can't we go with Emma and Gabe to California?" When I told her that was a great idea but it just couldn't be that way, her brow furrowed and she teared up. And that was the first night I had a complete and total sobbing breakdown that my best friend and her beautiful family were moving to San Luis Obispo to start a new chapter in their lives. I'm hoping that it lets up sometime soon because spending the day holding it all together gives me a big, fat, throbbing skull-ache.
Jess is my work friend turned mom friend turned best friend turned sister. From triathlons to cooking to laughing about the "finer points" of motherhood, that girl is woven into my life. Somehow, I made it into her coveted inner circle, and I know how blessed I am for it. The fact that she called me just over three weeks ago to say "it's a done deal, we're moving" seems surreal.
Even though we didn't see each other everyday, there is still a palpable difference now that she's closer to the ocean than the mountains, but we'll get through it - one text, phone call, and airplane ride at a time.
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| I look like a complete tool here, but it's a great pic of Jess! :) |
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| Besties Forever. |
All the sudden I find myself - OURselves - very alone. Sure, we have friends, but Janelle and Jessica were our family away from family. It's not easy to find people you trust implicitly with your children, or to find those you know would drop anything and everything to help when needed. That is who Janelle and Jessica were, and now they're gone. Trying to recover from over a decade and a half of combined best-friendsmanship, moved away in one wearisome summer, is difficult to say the least.
And, to boot, I now have to find new "Emergency Contacts" that don't live in California. Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
So, California.... What do you have to say for yourself?
You can have all your movie stars, miles of beautiful beaches, temperate climate, wine tours, and smarmy little ads. But what you can't have are my two besties - and you don't. Because I know that someday they'll make their way back to the mountains they love and into the welcome hugs of the Hurli-Fam! Until then, I begrudgingly loan them to you - so you'd better be nice.
Or ELSE.
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