Harriet and I have had a complicated relationship, to say the least.  I have to say this, first, though. I love her like I love anyone that's entered into my immediate circle of friends, even though I haven't hung out with her in ages.

When the kids were in kindergarten, we dropped them off and stood around the same spot, and started talking to each other. It developed into a tight friendship, where I would sit in her Durango, and wait for the kids. We'd show up every day at school two hours early with coffee and music, and sit there talking waiting for the kids to walk out, even when her daughter and Alden were in different ends of the school, we made them walk around to where we were.

Our deep friendship progressed into a sexual relationship, and that was fun for awhile. She always had a billion things going on at once, and I was sort of happy to be a part of her chaotic life. She would drag me to parties and friends houses, and she did a lot to chip away at my social anxieties. With her, I learned to "fake it till I make it" in social situations.  She didn't give me the choice to sit out, often.  I catered her aunt's 75th birthday party. I loved her and hated her, and I blogged a ton about her back in the early 2000's because she was such a turbulent and zingy ball of energy in my life back then.

Then our house burned, and all that shit happened, and I got too busy.  A few years later, her house burned down, and I helped her out a lot with her pets and other stuff. She moved out of the neighborhood for a few years, while her house was being rebuilt.  She got into some bad relationships, while cheating on her husband, some very jealous types. She got mixed up with a woman that got her hooked on pills, which really kinda killed our friendship for a time. She couldn't really even say hi to me, the woman was so insane.  She served some jail time, lost her job. Got another job, lost that.  So much bullshit. I tried to be around for her, through all this, and she'd come over despairing sometimes, but the light kinda had gone out of things.

So, today she turns up.  Looking good, tan, and happer than I'd seen her in a while.  She's going to NA meetings, and she's been off the pills for four days  We chatted about the houses, she lost more in Sandy than I did.  She moved out of the neighborhood again, when her house got destroyed, and just came back a few weeks ago.   We've both kinda come to the end of our ropes about things, with the houses and we reconnected on a great level.  I opened the door to her. If she ever wants to just come over and get out of the house, just to quit staring at the four walls, I invited her here.  I know that means a lot in the recovery process.  Just to get out of your prison and go take a walk.  I lit up seeing her on the porch. I love reconnecting with old friends, no matter what's transpired in the meantime.  Nevermind all the bullshit, I hope she stays off the pills, and sticks around.