On Friendship....

Despite my not being the stereotypical social butterfly, I have always had a decent amount of friends. Throughout the years I have added few, subtracted many or just grew apart from certain people who occupied the majority of my life. But even through it all, there are a select group of people who no matter what I know will always be my friends.

The last few years, mainly between college and finishing up law school, the dynamics of a lot of my friendships started to change. One decided she didn't want to be my friend anymore for whatever reason and decided to focus more on her relationship and other friends who were already married. I was hurt and confused by this, but I moved on...
A couple of years later two of my closest girlfriends from college decided that I had "changed" because I didn't want to party all night and be settled down & such and stopped talking to me.... This separation didn't hurt as much since I definitely knew I had outgrown them and really couldn't engage in the same type of activities any longer so I was good. But now, I feel like another shift is on the brinks of taking place....

A relationship with one of my closest guy friends is on the verge of being non-existent and that one I really don't understand. He says everything is fine now, but it just isn't the same. Maybe this is a part of life, or maybe not.... I still haven't figured that it out.

When I sit back and really evaluate the people who are in my life that I know will always be there I do notice a common thread. We may not talk everyday, hang out with each other often like we used to or even share the same interests anymore... It's just the feeling I get that no matter what I can call them up and cry for no real reason and they won't judge (unless I ask them too) or that I can say something random and it will completely make sense to them. There are a lot of other traits, but lately those have been the main two that I have needed most.

Are all friendships meant to last a lifetime? Are there ways to prevent outgrowing a friendship, or is it like relationships where some are meant for a season or a reason?

I think as an adult we don't have time to cultivate friendships like we should in between relationships, work, family etc but I do think having a solid group is important. I also think that friendships shouldn't be measured by the amount of time we spend together, or what all I have given you or what all I can do for you. I just don't think it should be that way, and I appreciate the friends I have that see me for more than tangibles.....

Game Night

I'm probably going to regret staying up so late in the morning, but it was definitely worth it by going to the Rockets game tonight.

My friend and I went to see them play the Miami Heat. They lost, but it was a great game. On and off the court.... I didn't get the memo that there would be soooooo many (presumably) single guys at the game, but I DEFINITELY know now.....

I'm already looking forward to my next game.......

---31---

This was probably the most low key birthday I have had in a very long time. I usually plan series of events to celebrate, but this year I let one of my friends discourage me from actually celebrating how I wanted to and I just planned a last minute dinner with all of my girlfriends....

We went to St. Genevieves, which is a trendy lounge/restaurant that one of my girlfriends suggested... It was very upscale & nice, but not a place I would have chosen on my own.

Ummmm yeah... I kind of forgot how easily it is for large groups of girls to revert back to high school when there aren't any guys around to block out the extreme amounts of estrogen....So yeah, no more large groups of the cast of meangirls girls...... After dinner, my sister and a couple of my friends & I went out and danced the remainder of the evening away. Overall a good way to usher in thirty-one.....

On Saturday night, I went to a wine/cheese/art show/birthday party for a fellow Scorpio who happens to share the same birthday as I do. In addition to the wine, and art she had a henna tattoo artist doing custom work on all of the party patrons. What a great idea! Her sister (a Gemini) always makes fun of the both of us for always making such a big deal out of our birthday. I feel kind of sad that I did not do what I originally planned on doing for my birthday...but I guess next year I will ignore the haters critics and go with what I want! ****

The remainder of my birthday weekend has consisted of a lot of rest, relaxation and reflection. I can't believe I am officially in my thirties!!!!!!!! *gasp*

ok, so....

Even though I have had plenty of birthdays, I still think It's OK to get excited about it like I'm a little kid... It's OK to not want to go to work on my birthday, but still suck it up like a big girl and go (especially since I have court....) It's OK to go shopping for a new dress, and new shoes and new jewelry just because I want to look cute on MY BIRTHDAY... It's OK to feel special about receiving tons of FACEBOOK notifications wishing you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY...even though you don't regularly talk to a lot of the people who are posting on your wall.... It's OK to reminisce on the ghosts of birthdays past... but IT's EVEN MORE OK to be happy about the future, grateful to GOD for all of HIS blessings and happy that you have been given another year of life to do better, be better and live better & move on. It's OK to grow up...

Final Hour.....

This is my final hour of being thirty.... It seems like only yesterday I was blowing out candles and welcoming in this new decade of my life...

I can definitely say, I brought thirty in with a bang....and lots and lots of shots...

Tomorrow morning when I wake up I will have entered into the official first year of my new decade. -30+1- Thank God for life & new beginnings.

Weekend Get-A-Way: Atlanta Edition

My weekend trip to Atlanta gave me life, and was the perfect way to kick off my birthday month. I learned a lot about bands, and their ability to make people (present company included) dance....

I got to spend time with my best friend from law school, my best friend from undergrad (I opted out of posting our photo on here) and catch up with a good friend from high school who decided to stay in Atlanta permanently after she graduated from Clark.

I went to two different courthouses with my friend, in two different counties and was AMAZED at how different things are in Georgia than in Texas... where I am usually the only minority (women/person of color/under the age of forty)in the entire courtroom. It was very refreshing and encouraging... And yes, I was actually excited about being at court while I was on vacation...

I ate at Gladys & Ron's... and had brunch at J Christopher's...blueberry crunchcakes, yes.

I also ate entirely too many cookies.... And slept.....

If only I could go into detail about the rest of my trip. I guess I will have to save it for the memoirs....but I digress. I had an amazing time with my girls this weekend and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to get away and have peace of mind. A lot was going on while I was away, and I am happy that I was able to refocus and rejuvenate. ** I feel well equipped to move forward...and I am looking forward to this next year of my life....

Sweet November...

I love that cliche catch phrase, "Sweet November" and I'm really praying this month is sweet to me. This year has been an emotional roller coaster and I'm glad there are only two months left until 2013.

I'm at the airport now.... taking a much needed vacation to kick off my birthday month. I plan on pushing the reset button while I'm in Atlanta, and returning home in a few days refreshed and ready to get myself back on track.

And now I'm ready for take-off.......