I have to admit I was nervous. I mean she is funny. Funny funny. The kind of funny where jokes fly out of her mouth effortlessly and often while you’re left thinking, “I have no witty comeback for that. So I will just listen and enjoy. Hope she doesn’t expect me to talk or anything.”
And she was coming to visit with her daughter for the weekend. So that was going to be a long time of me not talking. Also, what does one feed a really funny person? Do they like sandwiches? Mixed nuts? Mexican?
Furthermore, I was pretty sure she couldn’t sleep on regular bedding. Not plain white anyway. Funny people prefer color and patterns. My husband agreed, sort of. “That bedspread is older than the Shroud of Turin!” he said and set off to find a proper funny-person comforter. He texted me photos from Home Goods, “This one?” “How about this?” I hemmed and hawed until the last text came through with irritable tonal subtext: “Forget it.”
I washed our decrepit comforter and hoped for the best.
Then I stocked the pantry with funny people snacks like Chex Mix and Kettle Corn. I threw some apples in the mix just in case, and avoided the eggs. Funny people and eggs? Doesn’t work at all.
By Saturday morning I was set. Ready! I could have this funny person over and it would be good. I still wouldn’t talk much, but I’d laugh a lot. It’d be OK.
Also! Chex Mix!
She arrived about 2. I made her a turkey melt. I settled in to listen to her comedic brilliance.
But it didn’t happen that way. Instead, she asked about me. Where I met my husband, what I like to do, why the hell did I buy Chex Mix.
In an hour, we were very nearly sitting on each other’s laps.
By nightfall, we were professing love.
The next morning, we couldn’t stop talking or laughing.
The next evening at 11, she ran upstairs and sat on my bed for 30 minutes, confessing and sharing and supporting.
At 5AM the dawn of the second day, my daughter came to my bedside, sobbing. “I don’t want them to go!”
My husband cuddled her until she calmed down and relaxed enough to rest.
My new friend packed her suitcase in between writing next to me at the dining room table. Soon enough, it was time to leave.
We parted as old college roommates might, full of stories and our ups and downs.
Still. Most probably picking up on my trademark insecurity, she didn’t leave before she told me — in essence — “Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Or more exactly: “I will not stop telling you how fucking funny, kind, beautiful and all around wonderful you are until you believe it.”
I was “gotten,” which in all my worrying about the not talking, the bedspread, and the Chex Mix, I didn’t expect.
Funny people like cupcakes.
I am so glad you are in love with her! I wish I could have met her last weekend. I was hoping that if I rubbed up against her arm or something, I might catch some funny… can you catch funny?
And apparently, along with cupcakes, funny people enjoy spending time with you. No surprise there…
Love it!! I was looking forward to hearing about your visit… she sounds not only funny, but wise… you are funny, kind, beautiful and all around wonderful!!
Glad you enjoyed your weekend!
And you girls are bringing your funny selves AND the cupcakes to Denver, right?!
See, I would feel exactly this way if YOU came to visit ME.
Kate Wheeler split a Twinkie with her after knowing her for 15 minutes. That’s like college roommates, right?
Squeeeee…. Oh how I love this! So excited you spent such an amazing weekend together. Jealous? Um, yeah.
didn’t I mention what a fan fucking tastic writer you are?
It is truly MY privilege to know you. And, no I won’t stop telling you how wonderful, beautiful, FUNNY AS ALL GET OUT you are until you know it as well as I do.
Funny people get shushed in restaurants. :D
awe..that is so sweet. Funny people like you and think you’re pretty funny too! :)
~K
I’m so sad that I missed so many incredible bloggers at the conference. What was I doing?
Anyway, glad to find you over at Jill’s website.
I’ll have to backpost to catch up with everyone.
Love this! You only need one truly great friend like this in your life. I don’t know where I’d be without mine. She’s always telling me just the right thing at just the right time.
Of course funny people like cupcakes! Anyone who has half a brain likes cupcakes! (Did I tell you when I moved this last time that I moved right around the corner from a world famous cupcakery?? Seriously, in the world of cakesters, this place is mega famous. No, I have not yet managed to get a damn cupcake because 1. I’ve been too busy, and 2. apparently I am not funny enough to warrant one.)
By the way, I love your new friend because she’s saying everything I would (and think I) have said to you.
Love you!
“I will not stop telling you how fucking funny, kind, beautiful and all around wonderful you are until you believe it.” Not just funny. Smart too.
I love her! I love you! She is hysterical! You are hysterical! Have I mentioned I love you both? I need a mimosa…