You know what's funny about California?
The fact that I keep forgetting that I DO have friends here. I have my best friend, my sister from another mister, here. She came over for a pedicure today, brought a girlfriend and her boyfriend, who stayed behind with Evan and the kids and played Super Mario with the boys. He's a great guy, and I am grateful to my sister for bringing him into my life.
She also brought me a gorgeous scarf from her recent visit to Turkey. Turkey! I have barely left Burbank in the past three months.
We had a lovely pedi at the Oasis Spa and then got home in time to set the (fed) kids up with Cars 2. I roasted brussell sprouts and grape tomatoes with some garlic and olive oil and made some whole wheat couscous while Evan grilled Silverhead salmon fillets rubbed with dill, lemon, and coriander crushed in my mortar and pestle. The five grown-ups sat down and had a lovely meal, with entertaining visits from the kiddos. After dinner they even helped with the dishes, read stories to the kiddos, and hung out to socialize while the kiddos were falling asleep.
These are good friends, and we are lucky to have them.
We also have a co-worker that I have considered a friend for at least a decade, and he went up and married a kickass chick who I am thrilled to know. She's a wee bit older than me, has teenaged sons, and gives me great parenting advice. They came over last weekend and were tolerant of our crazy kids and appreciative of my potato salad. Can you believe that their 14yo son/stepson is also our new babysitter? They are great folks, and I am grateful that they are in my life.
I also have fledging friendships with folks from Lucy's preschool and Arlo's kindergarten class. I am grateful for their advice on everything from a good pediatrician to decent pizza. (Their definition of "decent pizza" is different from mine.) We have struck up a friendship with a family who had a daughter in Arlo's class, a son in Oscar's class, and the mom teaches Lucy's class in preschool. These people all have full lives already, and certainly don't need to make room for some crazy comics family from NJ/NY. But they've opened the door a bit, and been welcoming and friendly, and I am grateful.
Honestly, I am grateful for every knowing smile from a fellow mom. I am grateful for every casual comment from a parent at a playground. I am grateful for every chatty cashier at the local grocery store. I am grateful for every parent that chats with me at pickup.
When I bemoan the fact that i don't have friends out here, it's really that I don't have MY friends out here. I spent seven years luxuriating in a big old group of friends that I raised my kids with. Those are the people that I miss every day; and who I get a little bit sobby for. I also miss my mom and dad more than I could ever imagine.
But there are rays of sunlight here and there; and the friends that I do have are beyond lovely. My parents are coming to visit in December. I already have a full house for Christmas.
What's funny about California today is that sometimes I can't see the the nose on my face. But it's there: friends that are supportive, and funny, and awesome.
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