Just the perfect blend-ship

When I went off to college, I was a very emotionally immature 16. Without the help of five very special women, I would not have made it past the first semester, let alone graduation.

Cristy Greenwood and I had been friends since the eighth grade, when her family moved next door to mine. Cris and I decided to room together at BYU, in Heritage Halls. Heritage had six-person suites; three bedrooms with two twin beds, a desk and two dressers; and a kitchen/sitting room. Added to our group were: Jenny Howard, Cristy's cousin; Stephanie Bates and Linda Young, Highland High School classmates of Jenny's; and Carrie Vincent, a Spanish Fork girl randomly-assigned to us by the fickle finger of fate.

We laughed together, cried together, got mad at each other, supported each other, shared boys and clothes, made no-bake cookies, saw some off to missions, and saw some get married over the course of six years. These women became my very best friends.

Over the course of time, we all got married and dispersed. I kept in touch with Stephanie, made easier with the advent of email. I received Christmas cards from everyone, getting the yearly update and pictures. occasionally I'd talk to Linda or Jenny. In fact, Jenny and her family (9 people!) stayed in my tiny New York apartment in the summer of 2005, while I traveled in Europe.

For years, we had all talked about a Felt 35 (our apartment) reunion. This year, we finally did it. On February 8th, Cris, Jenny and Linda, as well as Linda's 2-year-old daughter, Katie, arrived at my home in San Diego. Carrie and Stephanie arrived the next day. We spent the weekend as 18-year-olds again, albeit wiser, more experienced 18-year-olds. Stephanie later remarked to her husband, Rich, "It was like we had just been away at home for Christmas, and had come back together."

We played games until 12:30 am, talked about our families, our experiences, took pictures and went to dinner and lunch together. Most wonderfully, we went to the temple. To me, that was a preview of heaven, having my "sisters" with me in that most sacred of all places.

Sunday afternoon came all too soon. It was hard to see everyone go, but we've made plans to see each other more often and to keep in close contact. Carrie went home and made all of us scrapbooks, including pictures from college as well as from the weekend. It was one of the nicest gifts I've ever received.

So, when other friendships have been forgot, ours will still be hot!

I'm gonna rock your faaaaaaaace!!

I have succumbed to the blogging. For years, I have avoided bloggery, convinced that it is only for the self-absorbed, freakish and/or officious. But now, with my husband headed out for an entire year, a blog seems to be a good way to keep in touch, supplementing emails and phone calls. Unfortunately, it doesn't take the place of actually being together, but oh well. What doesn't kill us will only make us stronger, blah blah blah.

So, I'm calling this blog "I am nothing if not tenacious--D" not only to play off of one of my husband's nicknames for me, but also as a statement of fact. I am, in fact, nothing of not tenacious. For example, I did not get through medical school by being the sharpest needle on the syringe, but by being the one who pushed through and did it, damnit, because I wanted it the most. I will get through this year as I have the other years I've been by myself, for one reason or another, because I want to get through the other end and be reunited with my funny, strong, supportive, rrrrrowdy sweetheart.

There are several things that I will be able to do this year that maybe I wouldn't have done if Rowdy were here. One of the things I really look forward to doing is taking Jordan, Keiler and Max with me to Europe to meet Rowdy this fall. We had thought about taking the kids on a trip like that, but had put it off because of finances or timing or whatever. I think we'll have a great time. I'll also probably see a lot more of my distant friends and family, relying on their taking pity on me and spending a weekend here or there in Sandy Lame-o "just to make sure you're okay". And I just might take up scrapbooking, or go ahead and buy that drum set, or maybe buy a bass guitar, or go on more Go Girl mountain bike rides. You never know. But one thing is certain, over the course of the year I'm going to continue developing into a better, stronger D.

Watch this space. Over the next year, Tenacious D is gonna rock your faaaaaaace!