. . . you dedicate an entire week to her on your blog. Obviously. Yes, it’s true. One whole week. Six consecutive days of food and memories that I am so excited to share. To lead up to the big day (March 2) I will be sharing a yummy treat, hearty meal, or perfect cocktail that means something very special to us. If you are a twenty-something individual you definitely know what I mean when I say there seems to be a wedding apocalypse occurring. I have been to my fair share of weddings — 10 in the summer of 2009, actually — with good friends, friends-of-friends and newly made acquaintances. But nothing quite chokes me up like this one has been. Seriously. I’m a huge baby when it involves my friends, puppies, or heartfelt car commercials (thank you, Subaru).
I am not lucky enough to have had the same best friend since I was five, just the fact that Sharon and I have been friends for 6 years is a huge accomplishment. I am really proud of that one. Right up there with grad school graduation. And being obsessed with cupcakes. Yes, let’s just go with that. Growing up I never had any close friends, actually I always felt excluded. I kept myself busy with swim practice, and later water polo, voice lessons, daily babysitting, play rehearsal, community service, baking brownies, basically anything to forget the fact that I felt bullied and rejected. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being as busy as I was. And loved playing sports and hanging out with kids. But I never had inside jokes. I never was anyone’s number one, and as friends came and went, I realized the Sex and the City type social circle just wasn’t in the cards for me. All that changed when I met Sharon.
We met in New York City, within my first six months there. Meeting another California transplant was so refreshing. She welcomed my budding sarcasm, laughed at my inappropriate jokes, and allowed me to ease into my New York City life that I grew to love. We played in all the neighborhoods, ate cupcakes, drank wine & whiskey, and embarked on the safari that is dating in Manhattan. Now that she is with an incredibly awesome man, and about to walk down the aisle, all of that past craziness doesn’t even seem relevant. As I look back over the past six years, I can honestly say that every single drunken night, cupcake-binge fest, and horrible date after horrible date, has lead me to be the person I am trying to be. Someone I actually like. I would totally be friends with me, and this friendship is a huge part of that.
Anyone who drinks beer from a straw with me is a keeper.
As Sharon Week begins, all I can say is, thank you Sharon, for being the greatest NYC BFF anyone can ever ask for. I am so excited to be part of your special time and I can’t wait to see what your marriage brings. I hope you don’t mind me sharing a few memories with the world. From the outside it may look typical and boring. But anyone who know me knows that is just impossible. I hate boring. I hate ordinary. And from the inside everything that has transpired is always interesting.
Please enjoy this glimpse into one of the greatest friendships ever created. Ever.
The Little Red Mixer 