Day 46 - The 'Phoenicians"

This week zipped by. Dave in Vegas for work. I in Cali working. After the high of last weekend's trip to Phoenix, I felt light and happy. I missed my husband, but this potential dark hole beamed brightly, as I still glowed.

With him back on Thursday, we ceremonially prepared for our weekend guests--mopping floors and wiping mirrors, washing sheets and folding towels. These two Phoenicians, a smart and funny engaged couple, are two of our favorite newest friends.

I met them almost a year ago, in August, as the campaign in Arizona reached an early full sprint to November. Her and I both organized field offices for the democratic party. As a newbie, I was sent to her office to learn the ropes. I respected her immediately. Her large, light-filled office felt like good karma. Brightly-colored Obama posters and other local politican's posters covered the walls. She seemed organized and thoughtful.

During intense campaigns, friendships progress as if on speed. The days run upwards of 12 to 15 hours, and days off do not exist. Not until election day. While I eventually branched into running my own office, by November 4th the respect was mutual and a friendship was formed.

It's always such a joy to meet new friends. It often seems like at any given point in life, you've reached some kind of capacity. Like, 'oh I have five great friends, I guess that's it.' Never conceiving of more. But unfailingly, it always seems like every year or two, you meet someone new that you click with. A welcome surprise.

You shuffle around your life a bit. You make room for them. Cultivating a friendship takes time and patience. You start to tentatively water your new friendships with love.

Some of them never make it. They wither and die quietly, before bloom. Some burst open quickly--full of promise--only to faint just as quickly to the ground, like a sigh. Some, despite your best intentions and care, are unbloomable--you don't understand their needs or they don't understand yours. Some friendships you shouldn't be wasting your water on anyway...they suck up all your energy without ever providing beauty or peace.

But then there's those, that for some reason, all the conditions are right--season, light, and space. And when the flower starts to open, petal by petal, you squeal with delight. It's delicate arms stretched open to the sun.

You shuffle around your life a bit. You make room for them.

Needless to say, my friend and her fiance were an absolute blast. Both smart, interesting, driven, creative, easy-going, funny, and compassionate (well of course they get along so well with Dave and I ;-))! It's also obvious that they truly love and respect one another.

Anyhoo, the ultra-abridged version of the Fri-Sun weekend fun is as follows: talk and sleep, talk and eat, talk and beach.

Lastly, Three Random Quotes from the weekend without contextual explanation...
1. "While breeding children for the future success of the democratic party remains at the top of my list, we're having just two kids.
2. "No one would wear that shirt if they weren't a black Republican.
3. "Let's go watch babies read."