old friends.

I can't even begin to tell you about all the funny memories I have with Rachel.  We used to carpool to dance class growing up, but didn't reconnect until high school.  In high school, Rach was on the flag team, while I was on the dance team.  She was all about Great Bridge, and I had zero school spirit.  She once told a guy that I really liked him and encouraged him to ask me out.  I am forever thankful I was not home that night he knocked on the front door of my mom's house.  We would make creative jokes in ceramics class - later on, I would try and give the "awesome" things I made to Rachel as gifts.  Although we may not remember each others boyfriends' names, we were there for each other through all of them.  (Although I never supported that one dope she dated with the vanity plate).  We went to different colleges, and now we live in different cities, but when she visited me last weekend, it was great knowing we are still friends.  We still have the same sense of humor.  She likes polka dots and monogrammed things; I wear horizontal stripes and my cross necklace on dates - but we love each other.  

I met Dan three years ago when I worked in NoVa.  He was already Joey's roommate, and when I moved in, it was an instant friendship.  I vividly remember the first time we met.  My mom helped move me in, and although Joey already had plans that evening, she asked if Dan wanted to go out to dinner with us.  What guy would want to do that?  Go out to dinner with some girl he doesn't even know with her mother??  Dan.  Sure enough, he went to Outback with us.  The Jude and I both remember him ordering veggies as his side.  Talking with Dan after work was a part of my daily routine.  He would go into the kitchen, and prepare his food for the week, weighing each thing and putting them into containers.  As he fixed his dinner, I would sit at the bar and talk about my new job.  He actually listened when I talked, and it was really nice having a friend in a new city.  Dan introduced me to Chipotle, The League, and Pei Wei, among other things I'm sure.  It was funny having him stay in my guest room - it was like we were roomies all over again.

Rachel drove up from Norfolk.  Dan drove down from Reston.  They both arrived around 8:30pm, and we headed to dinner at Bacchus, a local Italian restaurant in the Fan.   Our friend Julia joined us for wine (Julia was also in Rach's wedding this past summer).  It still amazes me that we all have careers.  We're adults now, yet we still laugh at silly things.  After dinner, we walked over to 3 Monkeys, my favorite bar in Richmond.  

Me and Dan at Bacchus

Julia and Rachel at Bacchus

Me, Rach, Julia

Right when we get to 3 Monkeys, Rachel orders a pitcher of cola.  She wasn't joking, and neither was our waitress when she handed it over to Rach.  It's things like this that make me love Rachel.

 "I want a pitcher of cola."

3 Monkeys 

The cab ride home was one for the books.  This cab driver had karaoke!  The microphones were fuzzy, and Rach and Dan were tearin' it up with the classic "Baby Got Back".

Karaoke in the cab 

Baby Got Back!

That's the thing about old friends: you may not be in the same point in life right now, but at one point you were - and those were great times.  I loved being reunited with both of them, and my guest bedroom is always prepared for their future visits :)  Thanks for visiting and making my weekend memorable!!


xo,
A