They Came A Long Way

I am a person who has many acquaintances and a few very close friends.  So, when I moved Up North almost 1 year ago (omg) to live with my BFFL (Best Friend For Life) and to complete an internship with a class of 5 men and me, I really felt the distance from my girlfriends.  Fortunately, in the past month I have had much needed opportunitites to reconnect with almost all of them.  In June Ian and I travelled to Virginia/D.C. for a UT wedding and I got the chance to laugh and talk and sing and dance with "the wifeys" as we like to call ourselves. 

I also danced with my husband...

While it was a whirlwind of a weekend (we even got to spend some really great time with my brother Ryan in D.C.), it was so great to be with dear friends.

A couple of weeks after we got back from Virginia, my closest friends from college (Go Heels!) Charlene and Erin flew from NC to NY just to visit me! Oh, and they also said something about wanting to spend some time with Ian and get to know him better. See, until their recent visit, they had only met Ian twice. The first time was the day after Ian and I had our first date. They were actually there in my apartment in Knoxville when Ian and I had our first kiss! Unfortunately, between KU getting knocked out of The Big Dance and the half price bottles of wine that were consumed at a local bar, it was not the most conducive time for the girls and Ian to bond. But, time and love progressed from there and the next time they saw him was at our wedding. So, they wanted to see for themselves what My Main Man was all about.

Unfortunately, our friend Ashley couldn't complete our usual foursome because she is a new mom and had the Adorable Graham to tend to at home.  I don't blame her for choosing this:

over this:

Erin and Charlene's visit was a travel adventure even for me.  They flew into NYC and I met them there, where we shopped, ate, drank, walked, and subwayed 'til we dropped.  (That only took about 36 hours.)  We had a fantastic time in The City and then moved the party to Albany.  The girls got the chance to experience the wonder that is Clothes Mentor, of course we had our nails done, and Charlene took full advantage of the NY scratch-off lottery games.  We might have been exhausted when we left Manhattan, but Albany was the one that needed to recuperate once Charlene and Erin left town!

Then, Ian and I had just enough time to catch our breath(s) (and change the linens) before The Kirians arrived for their 4th of July visit.  They drove all the way from Raleigh, NC to Albany, NY in one day and arrived on our doorstep with enough energy and excitement to take a tour of Chalet Haag and catch up before hitting the sack for some well-deserved rest.  But before they could get under the covers they had to move the train that stood between Kari & Tim and sleep...a wooden toy train that is.  It was a baby gift for the much awaited Silas Kirian, the baby boy that Kari has been toting around in her belly for the past 5 months. 

Despite being pregnant, Kari (and Silas) accompanied Ian, Tim, and I on The Beverage Trail, a tour of wineries and breweries in Cooperstown, NY.  Then the guys went to the Baseball Hall of Fame while Kari and I walked around town and she told me of the wonders of pregnancy.  She is a wonder herself.  

Over the next few days, the four of us went on road trips and hikes, had a cookout and other delicious meals.  I took Kari to The Mentor and helped her shop for mostly non-maternity maternity clothes.  By the time we left that store, she had 9 new dresses, a couple of tops, a pair of pants, and a few other great finds.  It was a good thing they weren't flying home because between Kari's new clothes and Silas' new toys and onesies, they went home with a lot more than they came with.  I hated to see them go and it's hard to imagine that probably the next time I see Kari, she will be a mother.  I can't wait. 

In writing this post I've been thinking about what a bargain my 10 years of higher education was.  In addition to getting a B.A., an M.A., and a Ph.D., I got a husband and the best girlfriends I've ever had. I'd say that was a smart investment.