Ships Passing...

I can't recall the number of wonderfully awesome people I've met in the last (gulp!) fifteen or more years, folks I could see as being close friends, life-changing relationships, etc., only to meet them when one of us was about to move.  Usually it's been me that's moving.  The first person that comes to mind is a gal named Lori, who I attended middle school and high school with.  Seven years of schooling together, each knowing who the other was, yet we never spoke more than two words to each other.  Then, just a few days after high school graduation, we were both at Rachel Diaz's grad party, sitting next to each other, and we struck up the best conversation.  It was unreal how much we had in common, how we saw the world the same way, how much we liked each other.  I even commented, "I can't believe we haven't gotten to know each other before now!  And now we're leaving high school!"  And I was moving to New York City for college...and that was that.  It was all so bittersweet.  Luckily, Facebook came along fifteen years later so I still get a chance to see what she's up to, and yes, we still have loads in common.  Cheers to you, once and future friend, Lori.

Sometimes these ships don't exactly pass in the night, but rather collide amidst a frenzy of chaos and fireworks, only to go on their merry ways some time later.  That's my relationship with Libby.  We were both new mothers at the birth center back in 2009.  I don't know what it was about her, but she was so motherly and earthy and warm (she says I was one of the few people who actively reached out to talk to her), I just wanted to know her.  We scheduled a few playdates here and there, and before I knew it we were friends.  And then I moved to Texas for eight months.  We were still pals but we kept in touch mostly through Facebook.  Then I moved back to Michigan and our friendship ramped up.  I got to know her husband and their friends and family, and started participating in a monthly movie night...*POW!* our ships had collided once more.  For some reason, it was just in the last six months that I lived in Michigan before moving to Virginia that we really became close.  Which, of course, meant that my move hurt both of us even more than it would have.  The GOOD thing, though, is that our explosive friendship last year has solidified our bond, to the point that even distance doesn't keep us from being close.  We text each other everyday, and we usually speak 1-2 times a week.   Not the same as a playdate or movie night, but close enough.

In the 10 years I lived in Michigan, I had occasion to see and/or meet a couple who lived in the same neighborhood as many of my close friends. We ran in the same liberal, community activism circles, but for some reason, we never had a conversation, never got to know each other.  Despite that I know almost everyone in their neighborhood, I only knew them as John and Sarah.  Then she got pregnant and had a baby, and became part of the birth center community, but still we didn't cross paths. I'd see them at the weekly farmers' market, see them at local events, even hang out with them in a larger group, but we never really spoke.  Until about 3 weeks before I moved.  I always knew they'd be cool and I'd like them.  It's just that it wasn't until I actually got to know them that I realized how much I'd missed out on by not getting to know them years earlier.  So, John & Sarah, I'm sorry it took so long to just...say...hi.  You guys were so worth the effort.