Sunday, May 6, 2012

Sorry, thanks, and Happy Birthday Jillian


I hope you’re not sick of the birthday posts, because one of my bests had her birthday this week.  The only bad part about being friends with Jillian is that a little part of me always knows that I don’t deserve her.  Jill is the friend you call when you wake up in the middle of the night at a fraternity house you shouldn’t be sleeping at (no names here…), the friend who takes the smallest closet/middle seat/last spot in line, the friend who never forgets to call or write.

When I see people who are so obviously flawed in one department or another—cheap, selfish, unreasonable—but who somehow seem to have no knowledge of said flaw, I sometimes get nervous.  I once tried to figure out what my flaw is that is obvious to the world but unknown to me, with my cousin, Sam, but we couldn’t figure it out.  She clearly thinks I’m perfect.  Love her.  Anyway, with Jill, I know I am so often the person on the other side of the table or the end of the line who I don’t like very much.  With Jill, I can be dramatic, irrational, and the world can be all about me and no, she hasn’t once walked away, turned up her music, hung up the phone.  (More than I can say about some of my other best friends, ahem, Carrie, who hang up on me simply for “speaking too slow.”)  Or, with Jill, I can just not say anything at all, and I know she’ll get it.

I once called Jill in the midst of a “personal crisis.”  When I heard her voicemail begin, I started debating in my head whether or not I should leave a message.  By the time the voicemail ended, I hadn’t quite decided so I stayed on the line for a moment, silent, and then hung up.  A few minutes later, Jill sent me a text.  She was at her boyfriend’s house for dinner, but was I okay.  Yes, just wanted to chat.  She wrote back, Are you sure?  Of course, I wasn't sure.  But I wrote, Yes, all good.  How Jill knew to call me that moment, I’ll never know, but I didn’t pause before launching into my sad song and dance.

Jillian, thank you for putting up with me.  And thank you for visiting this weekend with Ryan.  Austin and I officially voted you the best houseguests.  Austin almost keeled over when you guys rolled up the air mattress and folded the sheets.  And he enjoyed having a bud at the bar.  Next time, I promise that Liz is not choosing the rendezvous bar.  Liz, that bar closed at 11 p.m. on a Friday.  Oh, and you didn’t show up.  Nonetheless, your appearance at the second bar was much appreciated.  (You’re lucky your pretty.)

Happy belated Jillian. Love, love, love.

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