Ripple

I started this blog because of Diahn. We had lost touch for a few years and when I came to her blog and saw what she was doing with her spare time, it blew me away. I wanted a blog, too. We're kind of like sisters that way, always have been. A little competitive. I'd cut my hair, she'd cut hers. She'd buy a really cool t-shirt, I'd buy the same t-shirt, I'd sleep with the Australian bartender, she'd want to sleep with the Australian bartender. Note that I said "want" in that last one. I won that one. Or did I?

I have to throw that in there because I don't think there's one thing that I do that she can't do better, but there are many things she can do that I can't. Like painting. Her work is beautiful.

Now that we're older, we don't compete anymore. We encourage. But I don't think she'll ever know how much I've learned from her, how she makes me want to reach for more.

Then there's my sister-in-law, Lisa. We never competed or wanted to sleep with the same bartender, Australian or otherwise. Lisa is the Great Encourager. She has a way of sifting through all of my rambling thoughts and pulling out the one strand of reason. She is the deepest of deep thinkers and always searching within for truth. And once she finds it, it becomes a part of her as if it were there all along.

She's also creative, in a smart-ass Martha Stewart kind of way. She once made a beautiful Christmas tree top from twigs in her backyard and acted as if there were nothing to it. TWIGS, I tell ya.

When I'm with her, I'm inspired by her grace. She's amazing.

Then there's Crystal. I met her at church 7 years ago and when she walked in with her cute spiky, short, blonde hair and quiet confidence, I instantly liked her. And I was right, she's been my closest friend ever since. She is the most giving person that I've ever known. Almost to a fault, if there is such a thing. And I don't think there is. We've seen the darkest and the best in each other and through that, we've grown together.

When I'm with her, I am completely myself. We can sit together like an old married couple and not have to say anything.

So what the hell does this homage to my three dearest friends mean? I'm not sure exactly. Just that I'm so completely fortunate to have them in my life. And that they are a part of who I've become. We need each other. There's nothing like being able to see yourself through someone else's eyes when too much self-examination begins to weigh you down with doubt.

I love my girls. I only hope I give them as much of myself as they give to me.

Cheers, ladies!