My Girlfriend Kristin

Time for my latest round of pandering to my readers.

This is my friend Kristin. I met Kristin on the first day of 7th grade. I was wearing an awkward cranberry colored skirt and white polo shirt and she was carrying an ugly purse that I found off putting. I only talked to her because the only other friend I met that day was talking to her. It was NOT love at first sight for either of us.

Small note. You may notice that many of my friendships have had less than auspicious starts ( I accidentally gave the bird to my other friend Kristin's husband shortly after I met them). And despite that, many many years later, I still have these friends. I do, in fact, get better over time. So if you've only recently met me and find me a complete pain in the ass, in say, 10 years, you won't. Ok, maybe you still will, but you'll still be glad you stayed. Just give me a chance.

Anyway, Kristin & I became the kind of annoying friends that mom's of teenage girls hate. We talked on the phone CONSTANTLY. And this was before call waiting! Her mom would pick up the phone and say, "It's that DAMN Chrissy WYyyyyyysocky" Seriously. We would laugh and laugh. We would write each other silly teenage notes and I would write "DON'T SHOW ANYONE" on them in big letters. Really, you should have seen the contents of these things. NO ONE WOULD HAVE GIVEN A DAMN!!!! These notes can make us laugh until we cry these days and I'm so glad she saved them. (In preparation to see New Moon, we are planning to rent Twilight, eat pizza and read the notes so we can get in touch with our inner teenage girl before we go and get all swoony over vampires!)

I could (still can) tell that girl anything. She never judges and always has a shoulder if you need it and a kind word. It's like getting a big hug.

She's a real giver. She works in a group home for children. She has an inspiring faith in God. She sings like an angel. She is mommy to the beautiful Corrine, a sunny child whose grasp of the English language (and pronunciation!!!) completely floors me.

I'm so glad she stayed after that purse incident.

Ok now folks, I still have spots avaliable into next week....