As of tomorrow, I will have spent 8 years in Durham Public Schools. And thus far, I've survived. Quite the miracle. No, really. I'm surprised I'm still in one piece. It's really hard to believe I've lived here for 8 years. But at the same time, it feels like I've always lived here. In many senses, I wish I had. The best part about living here for the past 8 years...well, no wait. That's not really fair. I don't think I can honestly pick the absolute best thing about living in Durham. There's been so stinkin' many. But one of the most awesomest things is the anniversary that takes place a week from today--me and Jessica's (my best friend) 8 year anniversary. Of the first time we met, that is. It cracks me up that I still remember my exact thoughts when I met her the first time ("Man, what a girl. That dress is so STUPID!"). It was Easter Sunday of 1996 and we'd been living her about a week. My brother and I sat in Sunday school and watched all the other kids walked in. I don't think Jessica has ever walked anywhere...she glides on occasion, and stumbles along at other times. That first day was no different. She flounced in and sat down across the room. The poor kid was wearing this awful hugely-flowered dress and she still had that ridiculously long hair (which pretty much no one else but me remembers).
People (especially our mothers) make comments all the time about how we're such odd friends. And I s'pose they're right. When it comes down to it, we're pretty much nothing alike. Which is probably a good thing (it means we're attracted to completely different types of guys...I mean, in 8 years, we've only once been interested in the same guy and that was at different times). And a fun thing. She keeps me silly and I keep her thinking. I add adventure and she adds sensibility. I maintain punctuality and she's eternally running 15-30 minutes late. She at least tries to be sweet and...well, we all know how I am. She'd spend her whole life performing and I'd spend mine reading and writing. She's the beauty, I'm the brains (just kidding...sorta).
In any event, I like that kid a lot. So, in her honor and in honor of our approaching anniversary, I thought I'd post my second favorite picture of us ever (my absolute favorite is us with Anna after the play last year, but I don't have that scanned).


- thoughts provided by Katey Orr @ 4:46 PM