"New Perspective" - Panic! At The Disco

What we see depends mainly on what we look for. ~John Lubbock

[feely post today . . . . . it's selfish . . . . it's for me to look back on from time to time]

I received a text from a dear friend of mine this afternoon.  I felt a smile come across my face just seeing her name appear on my phone.

She was "checking in" with me.
Asking how I had been.
Saying she missed seeing me.
What I had going on.
What was up next for me.

I told her. 

And

then asked the same of her. . . . . "How have you been?"

[Let me interject here and say . . . . if you even spent 2 minutes with this woman - - you would FEEL her strength.  She is not "wishy-washy" in anything she does.

Not. a. thing.]

She then told me in not so many words of an event that had recently occurred in her life.

I immediately had huge tears in my eyes.

Yes, I was sad with and for her. [for sure].  I told her this.  Asked if I could do anything & that I was here for her.

but

what moved me was her strength & her perspective.

 . . . . .

 . . . . . .

It's so easy to become discouraged.

Life, family, relationships, injuries, outside influences, etc.

but. our. individual. perspective. is. everything.

If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. ~Abraham Maslow

YTB. JB.

you've got a friend in me

I'm not high maintenance.


My toenails are naturally purple 6 months a year. My last manicure was in 2008. And my commitment to daily leg shaving ended in 1992. Make-up is more of a passing interest than a normal routine. And don't get me started on my "eyebrow upkeep". That's a whole other post.

But the hair - the hair

My name is Emily and I consistently schedule my salon appointments.
I schedule for some version of a highlight (full/partial/brushlight) two months in advance on or around the 12th of each month.

I am a bit OCD about my need to be shlaquered [yes, it's a word] in bleach and aluminum foil.

I have had the same hairdresser for 10 years. She moves locations....I move with her. When she says "jump" i jump. Then something happened [little thing we call life] and she said, "I'm quiting" [stopping doing hair sounds nicer doesn't it?!]and whammo .. I need a new hairdresser [and psychologist/councilor] STAT.  I love you J.N.!

So how'd it go? Somehow . . . . Fabulous.  "HH" is an adorable 25 year old, blonde. As she combed through my hair, sectioning out different clumps and pinning them up in hair clips. She was careful to comb slowly so as to not tug on my super thick fine blonde mane and sweetly streaked tendrils.


She was young - "HH".  A head full of thick golden blonde [of course, natural] hair and a fringe of platinum highlights just around the hairline. She spoke fondly of her mom & boyfriend.

And I thought she was cool.

Then she said she was so happy her boyfriend was awesome because her girlfriends "completely suck". She went on to say, "I do wish I had some really great girlfriends."


I sighed.

If I had met her a year and a half ago I would have marched right in with my, "I know girlfriends can be rough" comments - and that's when I did what I do best . . . went to blonde-land where I act like I am listening but I am so NOT "there". I started thinking about my friends.


I told her I used to wish for that very same thing when I was her age [no, I'm not 84 but 25 seems a while ago] - and I've since learned that they [new friends] are worth seeking out. I explained how I now have friends I'd certainly call "friends" [even in the blogging world] that I just simply adore. I would help them out in any way I possibly could. They are "loyal". And loyal, is BIG with me.

And that's when she asked it.

How old are you?

33, I replied.

"Wow. Well you don't look your age," she said without a thought or hesitation [well, I suppose the thought of her upcoming tip COULD have crossed her mind].

As much as I wanted to ask what 33 "looked like", I refrained.

Instead, I said what I felt.


My "friends" will always [first and foremost] be my family & God. AND [not BUT] lately I am finding just how much joy, fun, laughter & support can be offered by friends EVEN {gasp} the girl types. Not sure how I would have made it through the last one to two years without my friends. To some I am "difficult" to others I am "easy" and to Judi, I am "too low-maintenance" [I'm sure she's going to take that one back after the lunch we had today but . . .].

To get in my car [while still at lunch destination] and get a text [she IS the world's fastest texter, I swear] saying:

You've got a friend in me.
You've got a friend in me.
If you've got troubles, I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and can see it through
Cause you've got a friend in me

[she went on with verse #2 .."bigger/stronger too" because she's like 5' and 90 lbs soaking wet]

What I love most is that she rented this movie ToyStory [#1] on Thursday night because I told her she "wasn't American if she hadn't seen it".  I'm awesome, huh?  She thought not having kids gave her a "free pass" to NOT see it.  whatever.  she [of course, loved it]

So to all my "friends" out there. I'm trying. I'm trying to be THAT friend.
*COME ON - I know you love my deer in the headlights photo.  And "no" you may not know what she was holding. ;)*