On Friendship

I am sure that you have different friends in your lives that provide different comforts to you.  There's the funny friend, the going out friend, the hook you up friend, the childhood friend, the college drinking friend and so on and so forth.  I sure hope that I provide some sort of something to the people who call me a friend.  :) While I have friends who are special to me in different ways today I want to spot light a friend who always dares me to be bad ass.  She is one of my greatest supporters and she supports me to be a great mom and a great person.

I have known "D" since she was in the 7th grade and I was in the 9th grade.  We played soccer together in our high school years and then lost touch.  She was always one of the nicest, most genuine people I knew and she loved sports just like me.  After high school we'd see each other time to time at the Mall and would stop and talk, always trying to get together but never ever re-connecting.

In our 30s we ran into one another at the mall (again) and found that we were both married with kids and soon after that our adult relationship was born.  A million years later "D" was still kind hearted and a beautiful soul. She married a man just as nice as she and had to boys who were so much like my own son and daughter.

Lucky for me, our friendship blossomed and our families began to spend time together.  "D's" active and fearless attitude was contagious.  I would always cringe as her kids caught waves on boogie boards, climbed high on jungle gyms, road fast on their bike down mountains, and skated on walls.  Where her kids went, my kids followed. I would always have to close my eyes and walk away because her family's extreme way of living was always too much for me.    You see, "D" thinks I am adventurous but I am really, really a huge wuss!

And so this past weekend like many weekends "D" and I tried to plan a get together for our kids.  What I love about her is that she's super spontaneous (the opposite of me, I like to plan and be 20 steps ahead of the game) and is getting me to be more like her.  So on Saturday night we planned to do something on Sunday but didn't hammer out the details (super not like me, I like to be packed and have food ready the night before).  I had told "D" that I would be running Sunday morning and that I'd message her after I was done.

With 11.5 miles in the books and already almost 9 am I did the unthinkable and agreed to meet "D" and her family at the water park.  There's so many reasons that this is not typical of me, the biggest one being that I HATE the water park.  Why?  You ask?  Well, because a million years ago in third grade I had a drowning experience at Castle Park. I can vividly remember being under water, drowning, looking up at the sun shining through the water and thinking I was dying. Luckily my friend Stacie saw me, yelled, and my sister Laurie saved me. Anyhow, the Water Park was the LAST place I would want to be and with my kids in tow, even worse!!

We made it home and in a frenzy I grabbed things we needed and boiled hot dogs.  Before I could think twice we got in the car and headed west.  As we drove out I envisioned myself sitting on a chair in the shade and relaxing peacefully.

When we got to the Water Park it was of course, chaotic.  I had Dannika running one way, Noah clinging to my leg, and the hubby nowhere to be found.  Thank GOD for "D" who is perfect in such situations.  She was in the water, chasing after Dannika, taking care of the kids while I stood in the side lines and watched from afar.

I saw all of them splashing and having fun, yelling, and smiling. I saw my dear friend sliding down the slides and having a great time.  And that's when it happened.  I jumped in after them and tried the small slide.  A few times down the small slide and I was ready to try the big slide. In fact I did the big slide twice.  Thankfully I soon came to my senses and told "D" that I would watch her littlest son who like me is not so extreme.  He and I cruised in the shade, relaxing and talking story.  I was feeling so serend and I guess that's why when "D" came back and told me it was my turn to do some other attraction I followed her directions and walked up the hill.

Now, in case you don't know, the reason that I ran 11.5 miles earlier in the day is because I am running a marathon in two weeks.  Being at a water park, walking barefooted on hard concrete is not exactly the best activity for a marathoner in training.  So as I walked up the hill on hard stairs something in the back of my mind should have willed me to turn around and go back to sitting on the chair.  But for some reason, "D's"influence had taken control of me and I was walking up the mountain to who knows what.

Yeah, who knows what because not once did I stop to ask where I was going or what I was about to do.  Looking back perhaps it was fatigue that made me do it, but whatever it was I got on a raft with my husband, and "Ds" family.  Had I known what was to come I would have forbade my kids to participate in such craziness!!!!  The raft was going down a chute at full speed tossing my little guy up in the air and making me ill and dizzy. I was tortured between closing my eyes and holding on tight and keeping my eyes open in case I had to let go of the raft and grab my son who was flying in the air.  The short ride seemed like an eternity and I was ready to pray for our safe arrival at the bottom.  When we finally made it I was BEYOND relieved.  The kids were ready to run up the mountain to go again and of course this mean mommy yelled, "NO!"

The rest of our stay was mellow after that and I was proud to have survived my day at the water park. I felt a little bad ass having conquered some of my fears and actually letting myself go a bit.  I will even admit that the whole experience was fun and that I would do it again!

So this post is here to thank my dear friend for being that friend who dares me to be a little wild, who models spontaneity, who serves as an inspiration to me to always be young at heart and enables me to be a fun, cool mom.  Thank "D" for all that you and your family have brought to the lives of my family.  We are so thankful for your spirit and that you are you.  :)