Darling Grace. Taken in Alexandria, VA June 18, 2005.

I returned from a lovely quick trip to Washington, DC yesterday. I grew up there – in Alexandria, VA actually – so normally when I return for a visit I am a crazy woman. Breakfast, lunch, afternoons & dinners are all booked trying to catch up with friends from high school, college and other bits and pieces of my life. Going back to Alexandria is a little bit like going back in time, always a bittersweet experience with plenty of laughs and big hugs.

This time I tried a different tactic since I was only there a few days. I kept my visit a secret from all but a few people, not because I didn’t want to see everyone, but because I simply had to prioritize. I was only in town for three full days, and I did not want to be stressed out the entire time and only partially present with whomever I was with at any given time. My dear, darling friend Blair just went through an incredibly challenging year on so many levels, so most of my time was devoted to her and to my mom, and this was absolutely perfect.

I have known Blair for – yikes – almost 15 years now, and what a friendship we have shared. To see her now, knowing what she has gone through ever since I’ve known her, and all the sliding doors that could have very easily taken her down a devastating road, I cannot help but stand before her in awe. She has a strength and passion for life fueled by her love for her daughter Grace, and through all of the pain and heartache of the past year she has managed to keep her wild sense of humor fiercely intact. I haven’t seen Blair in almost two years, but the minute we were back together it was as if not a day had passed since we last cracked ourselves up at something totally silly. When I went to her office to meet her my first day in town, it turned out we put on the same outfit that morning – a turquoise t-shirt and white pants. We weren’t too surprised by that, it made sense.

On my last night in town, we went to dinner around 6:00 with her daughter, and were on our way home by 8:30. I was laughing the next day thinking about our evening rituals from all those years ago when we first met and didn’t even think about going out until almost midnight. I love how our friendship has evolved, matured and survived a lot of pendulum swings, and I love how much my face hurts from laughing so much when I’m with her.

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." -Anais Nin