Good, Great, Grand

I have great friends.

No really: they're the best.

One of those best friends came to visit me this weekend, and honestly, I don't think she could be a better best friend if she tried... and the thing is, she doesn't even have to try. That's just who Chasley is.

I could go on and on about everything I love about Chas: she's adventurous and fearless, she dresses like a real life Carrie Bradshaw (and she's not a bad writer to boot), her faith in God is unshakeable, and I can't say how much I admire her love of people-- all people. But I won't go on and on. I'll just say that Chasley is one of the rare people you meet in life that will truly inspire you to be a better person... to be more like them... to be more like Christ.

I've seen other acts of friendship lived out this weekend that have warmed my heart more than I can say.

People ask me often if I've run into my ex-boyfriend since we broke up. The answer is no. Even though we share a hometown and a university, we have blessedly had no painful/awkward run-ins. This weekend, as my friends and I walked up to a restaurant for lunch, I saw someone standing in the door wearing a t-shirt that sparked the immediate thought, "He would have liked that shirt." Why would he have liked that shirt? Oh, because that was him. Right there in the doorway. I turned to my friends and said, "I can't go in there. He's right there." Without questions, my sweet friends turned and started looking for another restaurant. They didn't make me feel like a baby or say I was making a big deal out of nothing, which for guy friends I thought was kind of major since the male species is not exactly known for it's sensitivity.

Later this weekend, we went out to hear live music-- this band was pretty much amazing-- and I danced and laughed with three of my best friends for hours. And Chasley didn't even complain when we had to walk over a mile back to my car... in heels.

Today I finished out the weekend with lunch with David, our game day weekend tradition. (Sorry, Dad, still no romance blooming). I think David and I see the world through the same lens, although he's quite a bit calmer than I am. The conversation is always top-notch though, from high school stories to favorite tooth paste.

And of course the weekend was sprinkled with text messages from Anna and a phone date with Erica, as if we could go more than a day without checking in.

I know most people hate to see the weekend end, and I probably fall into that category more often than not... but this Sunday evening, I'm looking forward to tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that and so on... My mommy is coming to town this week, and then I'm heading home for the holidays (minus a few days for finals). And with the holidays come more great times with grand friends, not to mention my wonderful parents and family.

Here's the outline version of Weekend Update:

-Sushi and shopping with Chas

-Dinner and drinks with Dave and friends

-Tailgating on the quad

- My first ever Yellow Hammer at Gallete's

- Chasley's first ever Bama game

- Auburn victory over Georgia (who we never beat in my entire tenure at Auburn; you can thank me for graduating later, AU)

- Dancing at The Red Shed to ZZTop, Hank Williams, Jr., and the like

- Lunch at Mellow Mushroom (not quite the same as Mama's)

- House marathon and much needed rest

bring it, Monday.