Friends are family you pick

I remember the day I officially moved from New Jersey to California. I barely made my flight, I was so late in fact, that I wasn't even allowed to check in my luggage and had to run onto the plane. As the plane pulled away from Newark airport, and as New Jersey grew exponentially further and further away, I burst out crying. I just couldn't stop. Roberto was sitting next to me and was dumbfounded. I'm sure he was thinking that he was bringing a certifiable nut with him back to the Bay Area (and he was absolutely right). Anyways, I bring up this memory of mine to relay the reasons behind my tears. I of course was lamenting the fact that I was leaving behind my family on the opposite course, but I also shed tears for all of the friends and the amazing life I had on the East Coast. I was excited and happy to follow my dreams of having an adventure in San Francisco, but I was heartbroken as well thinking of all I was leaving behind. Plus I seriously had the most kick-ass goodbye party EVER.

evidence of kick-ass good-bye partaaay

My friends were the reason I had this amazing life, and as I am currently back in the East Coast running around like a crazed hyperactive chicken as I travel to four states due to conferences, job interviews and visiting my family (both biological and adopted), I am still amazed at how well my friends take care of me. It's really something special when a person opens their home to you, hands you an extra key and tells you to come and go as you please. Or when a friend takes me out for wine and gourmet lamb burgers after an 11 hours intense interview process just to help me relax. Or drives me and a carload full of people to another state to enjoy an all night spa. Or let me crash at their place at 4am because I'm obsessed with how comfortable their sisters bed is (don't worry said sister is out of country). And when I get taken to a Korean BBQ buffet and am not allowed to touch the bill. Or when a family lets me crash on their couch for as many nights as I want, just as they did for two years (long story, for a future post one day). I just feel continuously blessed and overwhelmed by the love shown to me, It really makes me feel like extending my arms like Stretch Armstrong to envelope my buddies in a huge super bear hug.

GROUP HUG!

And boy have I been getting FED. Back in California, I'm on the unemployment diet, which usually consists of starvation, Ramen noodles, and coffee (oh and occasionally pasta). But HERE my god, I've been taken out, been given home cooked meals and been able to express my gluttonous self to the fullest. Yes it's great but I think I will be needing to buy spanx soon to fit into my clothes for my conference. But I do I enjoy all of this "soul" food, and getting fattened up on some love.

my "I need Spanx" photo

The point is that I feel super duper lucky. I'm not writing this post to brag, I just want to express my gratitude for having these amazing people in my life. I remember that in high school, the highlight of my life was going grocery shopping with my mother on Saturdays. Yes, that was the extent of my kickin social life back then. I remember taking pictures of people I sorta kinda hung out with in class just so I could look like I had real friends. But now I have REAL friends, as opposed to the imaginary ones, and that's probably why I can't stop taking pictures. (imaginary friends also don't photograph as well). Sometimes I still get shocked that people actually want to hang out with me. Funny how that doesn't get old.

So I just want to say to my buddies that YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME. Just like I wrote in my title "Friends are like family you pick" and I am so glad that I got to pick you dudes and dudettes. I also need to include my sister who happens to be my family and friend. If I were picking out a dodgeball team, she'd be my first choice for sure.

I'm sure some of you reading my blog will see this, so you should just know that I love you all to ooey gooey pieces, and to my friends who pretend to read my blog, I love you guys too =D.

Peace from NYC, off to Washington DC to spend some fun times with my dear friend Tom and other eclectic mixes of characters. Can't wait!!