Thursday, February 21, 2013

Number 30: Try on very expensive clothes in a boutique you know you can't afford (And then decide you can!)

An often told story exists from our college days - a friend was introducing Jordan and me to a group at a party. In her inebriated state the friend announced, "This is Erika, she's a talented actress. This is Jordan, she has nice clothes." We've consistently laughed over this story, but the fact remains that some of my first memories of Jordan included me complimenting her clothes. (We first bonded over a pair of pencil-shaped earrings she had.) She is the first friend in history that I could remember borrowing her clothes. At 18, this was a huge deal for me. I never had sisters, and none of my high school friends had a similar body type to mine. According to the movies, I had found a best friend. Some one to share clothes and secrets with. At the time, I appreciated this as a milestone.  I had no idea where that friendship would head.

Jordan and I were randomly placed on the same hall freshman year. A random assignment put us on that hall, but time did the rest. From September 2005 to May 2010, Jordan and I lived no more than a staircase apart from each other. We shared more than clothes during that period of time. We went through good times -- birthdays and first loves and long lunches in the dining hall. We went through tough times -- heartbreaks and hospital stays and lost friends. We went through the best times -- lazy nights on the couch watching tv, midnight conversations in our college lounge about the future, and heated drives to the drugstore because our apartment was too cold and we were too cheap to turn on the heat.

And it killed me when she moved to San Francisco in Spring 2010, but saying goodbye to my roommate was just that. Just because she stopped being my roommate, didn't mean she stopped being my best friend. But distance is hard. None of us live in that Boston apartment any more, and, to put it eloquently, being apart sucks. I miss my girlfriends daily, but every once in awhile, we get to see each other. Because having a best friend means buying a plane ticket so you can be with her on Valentine's Day. Having a best friend turns spending a weekend doing "nothing special" into the most special thing in the world. And even when you aren't able to see each other for two years, having a best friend means picking up where you left off. Because while Jordan DOES have nice clothes, it is the characteristic that defines her the least. She is so full of love and life. She is one of the strongest women that I know. She is one of the most giving people that I'll ever meet and that allows her to love fiercely. And THAT is why I am proud to call her my best friend.

THAT BEING SAID...

Wearing a sundress in 70* weather IN FEBRUARY while you shop with such a fashion maven is a dangerous combination. And if you've never witnessed us together, I should warn you that we enable each other. So while our weekend was full of hiking and gorgeous scenery... we also made a few off season purchases in a trendy little boutique called Azalea in San Francisco. And while we attempted to "just try on clothes for fun" we each left the shop with a to-die-for-dress and the same top. (I mean, we had to find a silver lining to being half a country apart, right?!) I ended up with the polka dots. Jordan didn't buy that (faux!) fur coat. And it was a weekend to remember. It might be a good thing we only see each other once every two years... or our bank accounts might never recover. ;)


As usual, while I set off to do something fun with this blog, I learned a lesson in the process. So here's your Erika-advice for the day. Life is short. When you find someone you love, soak up as much time with them as you can. And if you absolutely have to buy a sundress in the process, it's a small price to pay for a memory.

xoxo,
E