Friendship

I've heard many times, from many different people, that you don't get to pick your family, but you get to pick your friends and that's what makes them so special.

I believe that. To mesh with someone so truly, and deeply, is such a gift.

I didn't attend my HS reunion this past weekend, and I've been checking out the pics. Everyone looked so good, obviously having a ball, and I wish I could have been there.

I started to think about the good times I had in high school with many of the those people:

- Shawn made sure that my 16th birthday was unforgettable - she threw a small party, the guys came over, we watched Eddie Murphy Delirious, ate and drank, and had a great time. I also remember that I "fell asleep" at one point, and I woke up on her bed and found a note next to me. It was the sweetest note, basically telling me that she was glad we were friends, and that she hoped it was the best birthday ever. It was great, thanks to her. And obviously unforgettable.

- I remember riding in Tanya's car, listening to Salt-n-Pepa's "Push It", just singing at the top of our lungs. She was very artistic, positive, and embraced life back then. It's obvious, in getting to reconnect with her via FB and seeing the pics, that she's still living life with the same ferocity and vibrance as she did 20 years ago.

- Steve is one of my oldest friends. I've known him since the 2nd grade, and he lived a few short blocks from me. I've never known him to do or say anything mean or negative to anyone, ever. One of those progressive, pure souls that remains intact as the years progress. One of those few, good men. Oh, and since his dad was a dentist, he always brought those pink tablets to school that helped clean your teeth. Very cool!

- Phil was a lot of fun back in high school. And even though I was so concentrated on getting one guy or another to notice me doesn't mean that I didn't notice what a good person he was. It doesn't seem that much has changed there - and he looks happy and content, which is exactly what I would wish for him now. And do.

- Jason P. was my prom date. What a gentleman. Neither he nor I were dating anyone at the time, so I guess is seemed like a good idea to go together. To get to know each other a bit better before the big night, he used to call me up and ask if I wanted to go for a walk. We lived close to each other, and we'd end up at his house in the basement, where his room was. He was very into lifting and heavy metal, and we'd talk for hours. Nothing ever came of it, but we did have a good time at the dance. Again, a true gentleman.

- I'd also known Jodi R. since 2nd grade. Always into sports and full of energy, we were in Bluebirds together, played softball and she never failed to do the right thing, in any situation. She still looks very full of energy, and I don't doubt that she still carries her glove everywhere she goes, ready for that pick-up game.

- Carter. Well, what can I say. Always the life of the party, and from the pics, that moniker remains true. Wondering what he won the trophy for?

These people, who I spend the better part of my childhood with, are now adults, such as I am. And while we are very different people now, we surely still possess many of the same traits we had back then. It would have been so interesting to catch up, and really see what's changed and what's remained the same about us all.

I will definitely be making my 25th - no doubt we'll all be even wiser by then, but will still let the crazy out!

Hope, Hope, Hope

Aw jeez. Things are not looking good.

The Red River in Fargo, ND is now expected to crest between today and tomorrow morning at 43 feet. It's already surpassed the 112-year old record from 1897. Most of the dikes have been built up to 41 feet, which does not look to be high enough. And with the crest expected to last from 3-7 days, it's anyone's guess whether the dikes can withstand that constant pressure for so long.

It makes me so proud that I am from ND - where people come together so selflessly in times of crisis. Johnson Drive, the street on which my grandparents lived and I spent the most time growing up, is where I learned what it means to be a good neighbor. A good citizen. Yes, it's true that sometimes we Northern folk like to keep to ourselves, and we aren't the most outgoing and genial people. Most of us are more "matter-of-fact" straight talkers who don't get overly dramatic. But when someone we know is in trouble, we are steadfast and true. We rise to the challenge. There is no whining.

It's been amazing to hear, first hand, about the incredible efforts the people of Fargo are putting forth in order to keep their town safe, their neighbors safe, strangers safe. And I'm hoping, maybe against hope, that the river won't crest as high as predicted, and the dikes will hold, and the town will remain safe and dry.

Random

Got some issues worked out in class last night. Also got my midterm back....A-. Nice.

I am feeling very optimistic today - I have several plans for today, some take place this morning, others this afternoon, and some this evening. All have the potential for very positive outcomes, some of which are in my control, some are completely out of my control. It's a good mix. I'm excited to see what happens.

My former coworker is having a party tonight, with the timely theme of "Unemployment Jam 2009". Love it. I will be there, at some point, to celebrate what I see as a liberation.

I am looking forward to seeing what looks to be a scary movie today, A Haunting In Connecticut. By all accounts, it's got the perfect mix of elements for success - based on a true story, séances, former funeral home, out of tune piano music, big old farmhouse, spooky basement, spirits, well-meaning priest, and Virginia Madsen of Candyman and The Prophecy fame.


This movie, "Away We Go", also looks good - David Eggers, who wrote it, is amazing, and Sam Mendes directs. Recipe for greatness. Also, any move Maggie Gyllenhall is in always seems to entertain. If you don't believe me, check out "Secretary". Entertaining as hell.

Fargo Fights On

It's rough going in ND. As the folks of Fargo fill sandbag after sandbag in an effort to hold back the Red River, parts of the area are already flooding badly and rescues are underway.

What makes these flood rescues more dire than others are the freezing temperatures, the snowstorm, and the fact that many of the vehicles in these areas are frozen and won't move. So they've got airboats, the kind you see in the bayou, out picking stranded people up and moving them to safety.

The river is expected to crest Friday at 41 feet above flood stage. That's bad. It's coming down to the wire now, and the efforts on behalf of the city and state residents, and others who have traveled there to lend a hand will be put to the test in the next 48 hours.

In the photo with the guy shoveling, he's waist-deep in slush/water, freezing slush/water, attempting to clear out a drainage ditch so the water will have somewhere to go.

Thankfully, Obama declared ND a disaster area, so the state will have 75% of their flood-prevention and rescue efforts paid for.

Yo Chuck, Move Over....

Chuck Klosterman is from my home state of North Dakota. He's a pop culture writer, having penned such classics as Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto.
I like his writing, as we're the same age and grew up in the same region, so I can relate to much of what he rambles on about.

He used to write for Spin, but is now a columnist for Esquire and has just published his 5th tome, Downtown Owl. I've yet to read it, my hesitation stemming from the fact that it's an account of a fictional town in ND.

There is absolutely no reason to create a fictional ND town for the purpose of publishing a humorist essay. There are a ton of small towns in ND ripe with hilarious stories and eclectic characters from which to extricate true life. Seriously. When I tell my friends here in St. Louis stories of my youth, they're ROTFLMAOPIP. Word.

That said, I have started writing my own novel, a non-fiction account of growing up in ND in the 1980's from a gal's perspective. I will be referencing music from that time period, as well as movies, pop culture, fads, politics, and the like. I will post some passages on this blog for feedback, and have secured fact-checkers and editors.

It's a go.

Now, all I need is a literary agent.

Eat At (Happy) Joe's

My absolute favorite pizza joint is Happy Joe's. My hometown in ND has a Happy Joes, and I worked there as a hostess while in high school (tres chic).

When I was little, Happy Joe's was the end-all, be-all place for birthday parties - everybody who was anybody rocked at the Joe's. Such a thrill - the employees would sound this alarm, which was scary and exciting all at the same time to little tot brains (like we weren't spazzing out already) and then honk one of those old-fashioned horns and announce that it was YOUR birthday, and the WHOLE PLACE would sing Happy Birthday to you. Total ego trip.

And if you're really lucky, you'd get the Barn Burner, which is this ridonkulous concoction of 24 scoops of ice cream, a slathering of toppings, nuts and sprinkles and whipped cream galore, to share with your party guests.

Also, HJ's has the best taco pizza on earth. Hands down. Can't beat it. Add a pitcher of Coke and a Silly Willy for dessert, and you've got yourself the perfect meal.

Now it looks like you can ship these heavenly pies anywhere in the U.S. - how cool is that?

There is a Happy Joe's here in St. Louis, on Watson Road. A bonus is that they have skeeball - endless hours of fun. Check it out - you won't be disappointed. Promise.

My Family

I ran across this picture of my mom and brother taken on Christmas Eve 2007. It was taken at my aunt Deb's house. I'm sure my mom will kill me for posting this picture, but I think it's a really nice one of her.

That's my brother Jeff standing next to her. He doesn't always look that mental, he's playing it up for the picture. He's an orthopedic surgeon, and a darn good one. He's been to Iraq twice, courtesy of the USAF, and helped to save the lives of soldiers as well as Iraqi civilians and insurgents. He's out of the Air Force now, thank goodness, safe and sound in St. Louis.

My mom came for Christmas this year also, and I believe she is reverse aging. She looked about 15 years younger. I remember when we all met up at the Olive Garden the night she flew in, I sat next to her and was amazed at how luminous and wrinkle free her face was. She was radiant. Since I'm adopted, I won't be able to claim those good genes, but maybe I can attribute her healthy glow to growing up in ND, so that I can get in on the secret.

When it snows out, like it is doing now, I miss my home, and my mom. Even though I believe that my old room has been turned into the "computer room", I'm sure I could walk in that room and feel just right. I wish I could wake up there tomorrow morning, knowing it's a snow day by the sound of her in the kitchen making pancakes with the TV on listing the school closings. That's the best.

Then later, when we'd be playing Boggle, she'd put on the Chuck Mangione record. Something soothing like that.

So, I saw this picture, and it's the closest I'm going to get to home right now.

And there you have it.