Nothing puts the importance of good friends on your mind like having to start over. When I recently moved across the country for a new job, I knew a grand total of 3 people in Nashville. Yup. Just 3. So on top of starting a new job, finding a new church (among the 14,000 located in the 2 miles between my home and office), and trying to write a book, I have to make new friends.
Now, before you go thinking that the people here are mean, they’re not. They’re like the opposite of mean. Which is kind and generous and fun and really very cool. Some very nifty folks have invited me out to lunches, joined me for flood clean up days, and welcomed me with open arms to a small group Bible study, even though I hadn’t even been to their church yet. I like the people here, and I’m sure that very shortly, I will become very good friends with many of them.
But this interim thing is killing me!
I spend most of my day overanalyzing the littlest thing, to the point that I’m not even sure I’m actually acting like myself most of the time. I worry about saying the right thing. Doing the right thing. Wearing the right thing.
What if I don’t watch the right tv shows? Or we don’t have anything in common? Will I be lonely forever? Will anyone ever join me for an all-day Jane Austen-a-thon again? Will anyone come visit my desk claiming it’s just to say hi, but really it’s to visit the chocolate-filled moose?
Heavy questions, that I’m sure I needn’t worry about. I know that to make a friend, you have to be a friend. But the making takes time. Memories build life-long friendships, and I haven’t had time to make many here yet.
For that reason, I want to give a shout-out to all of my old friends. To my Captain Wentworth-loving, miniature golf-playing, Pioneer Woman queso-eating (and making), killer uno-winning, fool-proof plan-plotting friends, I love you and I miss you! You’ll always be favorites in my book!
We miss you too, Liz! Hang in there…when I left CA I didn’t think I’d ever find friends that liked the same things as me, but I did. If I can do it, you can do it ’cause you’re MUCH cooler than I am. And you’re an author which also generates a lot of cool points. Praying for you!!
So I don’t play minature gold. I might attempt Uno, but I probably wouldn’t win. I looooove Austen and could watch her all day long. I also love PW and make plenty of her recipes (as well as a few of my own).
So if (when?) I move to Nashville, we can soooo hang out. Because I would be the new girl then and will need someone who will let me be quirky and silly.
In the meantime, throw a party…you might be surprised at some of the people who would be interested in watching an Austen movie (maybe just start off with one movie, not a marathon). Parties are an easy way to be a friend.
haha. you forgot black bear gravy-covered lunch-loving 🙂 i was just thinking about that as i got ready for church yesterday. i miss our after church lunches! there are few friends i will let witness me eating the very messy but delicious sourdough burger covered in mustard and grease but you are one of them! how special does that make you feel? love you liz!
Oh, I did miss Black Bear gravy-covered lunch-loving. Because I totally miss our after-church lunches there. Man, that gravy is good! Next time I’m there for a visit, we are so going for lunch or brinner. 🙂
OK, you totally just made me cry. For me and for you. That’s what I worry about, will I ever find another Liz? Not possible.
love you and miss you dearly.