2 posts tagged “friends”

I take a different flavor of coffee creamer to work every week, and this week was International Delight's chocolate caramel. I took it yesterday, and my coworkers and I decided it was good enough to drink. Now, I am just in love with my coworker Josh. Josh (or anyone else for that matter), if you are reading this, please know that it is a platonic love, nothing more. And I promise I'm not trying to take you away from your girlfriend. But honestly, he's one of my favorite people in the world and this just makes me think even more highly of him. When I got to work today, he approached me and said that there was only a little creamer left and that he hid it in the fridge for me. How beautiful is that? Maybe it's not that big of a deal when you read this little anecdote from my day, but it sure made me smile.

I mean, think about it. We live in a world that's so rush rush rush, and at my job we are definitely a good example of chickens with their heads cut off. It's a restaurant where our clients are pretty well off, and we bust our butts and bend over backward to get them what they want when they want it. My friend Joshua took a little time out of his day to think that I might want some coffee creamer this morning, and actually made the effort to help me out with it. Again, maybe not a huge deal. But it still warms my heart nonetheless. I don't need diamonds. I don't need riches. Little things like that make me happy. Thanks, Josh.

I'm not a social butterfly. In fact, the highlight of my school year, I think, is getting so lucky as to win the lottery for a single room in the dorms this semester. Oh, I like doing things with others, but on the flip side, I absolutely need my alone time. Like a fish needs water.

Having said that, I feel really proud of myself when I do socialize. Most of the time I feel pretty awkward. When I eat meals alone, I don't necessarily feel lonely, although I do feel alone. I don't care to sit with people I don't know; I hate small-talk.  But I am a people-watcher, and I can't help noticing the many, many tables of college kids having a grand old time with their suitemates. This sense of alone-ness is compounded by the fact that I am a senior, and I think it would normally be expected that a person of my "rank" would feel more confident or have more friends or something.

Well, I do have friends. The thing with me, though, is that they've all up and gone. My best friends--three lovely young ladies I met freshman year--are two and three years older than me and have graduated. We still keep in touch, but as can be expected, they're moving on with their lives and are not as accessible as when we all lived together and shared a bathroom. My roommate from last year decided to leave the state, and while we didn't become best friends, we got along well. One other good friend that I met sophomore year graduated last year and we haven't spoken much since. Another friend graduated and has started dental school across the country. Another one moved off campus, and the last one is still on campus, but in another housing area. So, I don't feel totally inaccurate when I say I have one friend (the one who remained on campus).

The result is that I really cherish the time I get to spend with my friends. I'm not the kind of gal who is friends with everyone she meets. I'm not bubbly and outgoing the way some people (namely, two of my cousins--not that being bubbly and outgoing is a bad thing, but let's just say I'm glad I don't possess that quality) are. This week is an excellent example. I just ended my first week of the Fall semester, but I've seen three of my friends in the short time span. One of the best friends stopped by to see my new room on Tuesday, another one came by today, and I had dinner with the friend who stayed on campus. Tomorrow I'm going to a live music show with the third best friend, and I've recently become friends with a girl who was formerly an acquaintance. She invited my to her birthday dinner on Sunday.

I know spending time with friends is a normal, everyday thing. But for someone like me, who doesn't make friends all that easily, the friends that I do have are extremely close to my heart. I'm so grateful that they continue to think of me even though our paths have split off in different directions, and I'm really glad we've met. You know, sometimes I wonder how different my life would be if I had selected a different college, because I got into a couple of pretty prestigious ones (UCLA and Mills--sorry, I don't mean to brag, but I had to throw the names in there). But I think about these very special friends I've made and the fun times we've had together, and I know I've made the right choice. I think I would have done well academically wherever I ended up. But my gal pals, well, they would have been harder to come by.

Thanks, girls.