February 11, 2003
Oh, Goddess. Look! My faery nails have leprosy.
We used to play together. Two little girls lost in a world of their own making. We used to be mermaids in the ocean. And dryads in the woods. We used to climb into huge iridescent bubbles and get carried away into far off lands. Ride unicorns that would show up whenever we were in danger and carry us to safety.
We used to be best friends. Despite the fact that my parents were conservative intellectuals and hers were earthy hippies. Despite the fact that she was always smiling and I was always serious. That she was outgoing and I was withdrawn. That she liked to twirl around and around laughing, getting everyone�s attention while I preferred to climb a tree and read, hidden from anyone�s view.
Then one day she moved away. To a town in Montana with icy streams and stately pines. With people who never lock their doors and wave at everyone they see.
And we were pen pals for a while. Sending eachother pictures and letters written on pretty stationary. Full of stickers and bookmarks. Later we exchanged emails. Long stories about boys and vintage clothing we discovered at the most unlikely places. Promises that one day we would run off together and travel the world. Fierce modern nomads searching for fulfillment and adventure.
We still see eachother from time to time.. And forget all the years that have gone by. Forget how we�ve kind of grown apart. Forget it all because the other person�s face is still familiar. And the look in the other person�s eyes is as warm and affectionate and mischievous as it ever was.
She wears faded jeans and worn out little boy shirts now. Colorful vintage dresses and three different kinds of glitter in her hair. I wear little plaid skirts and big chunky platform combat boots now. Black mini skirts with knee socks and mary janes or combat boots and military jackets.. But we can go to coffee together and forget the rest of the world. Walk down the street with our arms linked and our steps matched.. That�s friendship for you.
She�s down here for her sister�s wedding (on Valentine�s Day). And I feel like a little kid all over again. Or like I�m sixteen with a head full of crazy ideas and not a care in the world. I told her that last night and she said she feels the same way. We do that to eachother sometimes.
And yesterday we made crowns out of pine cones my mother had stored away and painted our nails beautiful shimmering colors and drank lots of strawberry flavored liqueur.. We told stories and secrets and agreed wholeheartedly that if we could have just one wish (any wish in the world) that it wouldn�t be for health or money or world peace but to have been born a changeling. Then we could return to Faery and never look back. It doesn�t get much better than that..
2:49 p.m.