I have been trying to be more intentional about making time to spend with friends. This has and hasn’t worked. Tonight is one of the nights when it worked!
I thought I hadn’t seen Javi in over a year. When we traced back to the last time we got together, we realized it’s been more than two years. That right there? That’s ridiculous. Yes, sure, there were good reasons for our long time no see: family, dramas and complications, health problems, dissertation writing and defending. We’ve planned and canceled and planned and canceled. But finally tonight — when, in truth, I actually needed to cancel again — I refused to change plans, and we finally got together for drinks and dinner at Bogotá, one of my favorite drinks and dinner places.
Javi is one of those friends who unlocks a different side of me, a version of me that doesn’t come out and play often. I’ve missed the way I laugh with her, the way our conversations spool out so comfortably, the way she always knows the exact right thing to say about my hair.
I needed to come home tonight. I have a project that needs starting, that needs doing. But I couldn’t bear to cancel. And I’m so glad I didn’t. I needed to get home, but I needed this more, needed to be reminded of myself in this way. Now I have more energy to take on the work ahead!
It’s the 10th annual Slice of Life Story Challenge!
Head over to Two Writing Teachers to see all of today’s slices
if you want kin, you must plant kin ... 
Really, really happy for you, because I totally get the planning and cancelling thing. So many good friendships are lost because .. dunno.. take it for granted that these great people will be in our lives.
Thanks for the inspiration!
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It’s hard to fit all of the things we’d like into our unconscionably busy lives. But yes, we have to make the time. Our friends are too important!
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Those fabulous smiles say it all – an evening well spent!
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It definitely was!
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You were EXACTLY where you needed to be and the big beautiful smiles in that selfie was proof! Glad you got to reconnect.
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Thanks, Rai! 🙂
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so glad you were able to get together and refuel each other. and it reminds me to reconnect with my own old friends. Thanks!
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Catching up — and staying in touch — is so important. I wish time and schedules made it easier!
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Yes! Work will be there (always). I love that the visit reenergized you. So happy you got to spend time with your friend.
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Such a great reminder of how important those contacts are.
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I need to follow your lead more! Sometimes we just need to put aside “the must do’s”, which as teachers we do all the time, and take on the “want to do’s” – those things that give us energy and make us get back to “the must do’s” feeling reenergized. Nice!
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Yes, keeping those contacts fresh requires work … but it’s so worth the work!
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