As of late

I’ve been having the greatest time catching up and hanging out with family, old friends, meeting new friends, eating and drinking plenty.

Girlfriends

Back in January, when Quyen, Michelle and I were in Tahoe for our mini-snowboarding trip, we were talking about recent dating woes, to which Quyen blurted, “Don’t you wish guys were more like us? Like how we are to each other?” I replied with a doleful, “Yeah…” not really thinking about what she had said.

It wasn’t until yesterday, when I was texting Michelle to wish her good luck on her first week of solo-teaching that it suddenly clicked. I realized the efforts we make to let each other know that we’re thinking about each other and to encourage each other in all of our endeavors. I take comfort in knowing that I can always count on them.

Edgar Allen Poe stamps

via shop.usps.com

I’ve been trying to get back into writing letters to my friends who live out of town and I found that the post office is offering these great 42¢ Edgar Allen Poe stamps. Their selection is pretty scant otherwise, but at least I’ll have these!

Away

This past weekend I went to Lake Tahoe with my two best friends (plus Q’s family) and it was a lot of fun. I snowboarded for the very first time (I’ve only ever skiied) and although I enjoyed it (minus the sore neck and dozens of bruises I incurred), I don’t really think it’s my cup of tea.

It was great to get away for a little bit, and I welcomed the change of scenery, but it didn’t help much to take my mind off of things. I wish I could disengage myself as easily as others can.

It’s a bit of a relief to be back, though—back home to my own personal space where I can be by myself. It’s solitude right now that I crave.

And I’m kind of tired of thinking and talking about it.

Escape

Even though it is a fairly large city we live in, it can, at times, feel awfully confining. At which point, my friends and I are itching to skip town for the weekend and seek temporary solace from the banality of suburbia in newfangled settings. The question now remains: where to go?

Old friends have no use for decorum

I was thinking about an episode from Felicity where she and Noel, her boyfriend, are having a disagreement and suddenly he refers to her by name, alarming her a bit, like, whoa, why are you using my name when you’re talking to me, you never do that. I can relate. With people I’ve grown comfortable and close to, we usually reach this point where we hardly ever address each other by name—there just doesn’t seem to be a need to, save for when you’re attempting to get their attention in a large, noisy crowd. But when you’re hanging out or having a conversation just the two of you, no need.

So in a conversation (a “Hello, [insert name here]!” is not what I’m talking about) when I’m referred to by name by this person I’ve known for so long, it throws this little bit of formality into a relationship that has otherwise outgrown the awkward politeness of new friendships, relationships. It’s then that I feel, “Ok, something’s up, something not good.” Sure, the tone is important, but I think the mere use of your name is significant, as well.

The last time I referred to an old friend by name in this way was when I had my very last conversation with my ex and best friend of so many years just a few months ago. We both called each other by name in our goodbyes, something we never, ever did before, and in this strange, though mutually understood way, it added a certain finality to our relationship, and any future correspondence.

“Bye, S—-.”
“Bye, K—-.”

And without having to say much further, we knew what it meant.