It is the fantasy of every little girl to have your closest friends live next door. You could tie tin cans with a rope from bedroom window to bedroom window and share your secrets in the night. You could run back and forth from one back yard to the other, you could eat meals together, see each other every day, borrow each other’s clothes, have a secret language, inside jokes and a safe place for sorrow.
Could you imagine how I felt 5 years ago when my dear friend- who had just separated and was moving back to Toronto- called me from Winnipeg to say “Nance here is my budget, the girls and I need to live close to you and yours, find me a house”
In that moment, with the phone in my ear, I looked out my back window absentmindedly, and there it was- a house for sale! This is the kind of magic that fills my days.
Sam bought that house and our lives became better instantly. Our shrinking family swelled back up. A friend right there- a sneeze away- who has everything you need when you need it- a great listener, someone who always says ‘yes’ to fun, the better cook between us and host to countless JORO dinners, a share in carpool, movie night, trip to the AGO, laughter, tears, my divorce buddy, extra closet of clothes, a shared glass of wine, small business advice go to girl, yoga pal, soul sister. A more generous person I have never met and especially in the way she excuses my gross shortcomings!
Sometimes when people say ” I don’t know how you do it all” I say ” I have Sam”
That same house is for sale again. She is moving. Not far- just a 5 minute walk instead of 1 minute walk- but it is the end of an era. An era I have adored.
This confirms it: You are a unicorn. xox
you are right that way Julie. But, I still need her and her me! We just need to travel around the corner a little further.
have to allow it, right Sara ?! That is what grown ups do with change- apparently we are not allowed temper tantrums. Damn. I need to have a good one
that is awesome. (the fact that she was so close…not that she is moving). it’s kind of “mary poppins”-ish in a way…she flew in to help you when you needed help and now she’s packing her carpet bag and moving along 🙂
no no no … she can’t move. I love how you guys came to live so close.
I won’t allow it.