Friends...

Recently, after moving clear across the country, I've discovered just how much I value my friends. Don't get me wrong; I've always known that I was incredibly lucky to even know these beautiful, vibrant, intelligent women--it's just that now I realize just how much joy they have contributed to my life on a daily basis.

I miss them.

I miss afternoons in the coffee shop, chatting about writing, gossiping about people we know, sharing ideas, and lending one another support during whatever latest trauma or drama one of us was surely experiencing.

I miss late-night phone calls, when we might have deeply philosophical discussions about life, writing, theory, and teaching.

I miss knowing that if I needed to vent--about my husband, my kids, my job, my students--all I had to do was pick up the phone, and someone would say, "The coffee shop? 3:00?" or maybe, "Come on over. I'll be here."

They have supported me through some of the most challenging times in my life, and now that I've moved 3,000 miles away, I'm even more certain that these weren't friendships built out of convenience, but friendships built on a foundation of trust, respect, and yes--even love.

Each of them has taught me so much--about life, but even more importantly, about myself. One of the things I've learned is not to take friendships lightly, but to embrace them, cherish them, and nurture them.

I may have moved away, but whether they realize it or not, I brought both of them with me. They're in my heart and on my mind every single day.