My best friend is a total bitch.

First, right after high school, she flies off to a college that is over three hours drive away.  Just left, up and left.  THEN, right after she graduates and moves back home, I finally head off to college (I was always a tad bit late to the game) and live in the desert for five long years. Ok, that part was not her fault, but she didn’t have to go get married and have a kid while I was away, did she?. The nerve of some people. And if that wasn’t enough, the friggin minute I get my butt back home, she takes off again.

TO ENGLAND! ENGLAND!

Hello! That is like a whole other country! Across a very large ocean!

That was around 15 years ago so I have forgiven her since. During all these years we have struggled to keep up with each other’s lives. It wasn’t always easy and gets harder and harder all the time, especially when you factor in adult jobs (real jobs, the kind that don’t allow you to take an entire summer off), then throw in more children along the way. Well, you get the idea. I don’t even have to mention the humongous time difference that thwarts quality phone chats, do I?

From time to time though, she manages to travel all the way back here for brief visits. However, it is usually during the holidays, which as you can imagine don’t actually make for quality catch-up time. Aside from running around shopping for last minute stocking stuffers, she is stuck visiting with all those other annoying people in her life that steal that precious time away from me.  You see, she may be a bitch, but she is a popular and well loved bitch. I know, it sucks. Why couldn’t she be a total moron that nobody likes? Just my luck.

Anyway, there is a point to all this and I am getting to it. This July she is coming for a WHOLE THREE WEEKS! I nearly bit my tongue off when she told me. Finally, we don’t have to squeeze in time with each other between wrapping and great aunt Matilda. In fact, just to ensure I get her all mostly to myself, I am renting a house down the shore for one of the weeks she is here. Long hours on the beach (with kids well entertained) and extended summer nights = endless talking with my friend! I can hardly wait!

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTT! (you knew it was coming)

It is also the same week as BlogHer. So sadly, I won’t be able to meet all you amazing people that I have come to admire, adore and aspire to know in person.  As I visit all your blogs these days and read about your anticipation of meeting, finally hanging out together… well I admit it, I feel the pangs. Strong pangs. I really want to be there. But, every time I feel that jealousy twinge, I remind myself that I am lucky. I am lucky that the reason I cannot be there is such a delicious one.

I will certainly be missing you, and my chance to make even stronger friendships in person. But, I have been missing my best friend for 15 years. Maybe next year I will get to go, and you will all be there again. Then I can come back and write about all my new friends… those blogging bitches who have the audacity to live so far away!