ode to Anna

I have not had very many traumas in my life (knock wood). Sure, I have the odd abandonment issue or irrational fear that I love my friends more than they love me (it IS irrational, right? Anyone?). But in general, my past is blessedly free of Lifetime movie plot-lines (except for when my best friend stole my boyfriend, but that's more 90210 than Lifetime anyway).

Which is why it's interesting, at least to me, that I have adopted a habit that you normally only hear about in the aforementioned movies, or "It Happened to Me" type articles in women's magazines, when someone has suddenly died: I tell my friends I love them all the time. Perhaps I've read too many of these articles, or seen too many Lifetime movies, but somewhere along the way the message that we should make sure our loved ones know they are loved sank in. Without the death, thank god.

This weekend, with Anna in New York, I've realized how much she has contributed to my having a wonderful time in Paris this year. I'm not unhappy, but I miss having her to talk to non-stop, and am definitely feeling a bit lonely. Part of that has to do with the fact that my friend Jaynemarie, who was supposed to arrive this morning for 6 days, missed her flight and is now not coming until Tuesday. Suddenly I'm faced with an empty weekend and no Anna to fill it.

My quickly arranged back-up plans, going to a Sufi chant concert at l'Institut du Monde Arabe, fell through when the concert was completely sold out. Instead I am home, watching this week's Grey's Anatomy and writing book reports for my freelancing gig.

Anna

So tonight, because I can't call her up and tell her, I'm telling Anna how much I love her here. Anna has made this year twice as fun and silly and unexpected as I thought it would be. I feel so lucky to have found a true friend, one whom I know will be in my life for years to come.

Anna, thank you for always being up for anything, for cooking me dinner, for dancing and eating and organizing parties and book clubs, for shopping and bitching and drinking and picnicking, for being snarky and understanding and patient and smart. And most of all thank you for being my friend.

Je t'aime.