Nurturing my inner... catching up

Work. Running class. Fun with friends.  I'm finding myself much more busy than I was this winter, hence, my postings aren't coming as often in recent weeks.  I'll try to improve.  So here is at least a short one.

I met up with a friend recently who I hadn't had the chance to see in months.  And she's so great, that it particularly stinks that we don't get to see each other more often.  We live far enough apart that traffic after work is an issue, oh and she's also pregnant with her third child.  While she's tired from growing a human being, I'm just tired from being one.  We did finally get our schedules together and met up for dinner in Fairfax Corner.  Before we did though, I went to the local cupcakery to check them out.  Cupcakes Actually.  They rotate their cupcakes, so everything you see on their website is not always available, but you're sure to find something you like.  They were running a special at the time, buy five and get the sixth one free!  So knowing I couldn't (shouldn't) eat half a dozen cupcakes by myself, I got a couple to bring to someone at work and some for my friend and me for dessert.

It was so much fun to catch up with my friend, though we did brave sitting outside and it was not quite as warm as I thought it was going to be.  After dinner, I showed her the wonderful box of treats and she had the brilliant idea that we go to a local coffee place down the block to have them there.  So wise.  (And warmer.)  We got to spend even more time talking about all the intricate details of life.  What's been making us happy.  And sad.  As women, we simply must to do that to feel truly connected.  All details, large and small, are absolutley critical to share.

Can you guess? It's like my usual now.

Out of the variety I had picked out, she chose the chocolate fudge cupcake and it should be no surprise to you that I went with the red velvet.  I seem to be determined to try every red velvet sweet on the planet to find the most amazing one.  To make the experience perfect, she treated me to a lovely (hot) vanilla latte.  Took the chill right off me.

It quickly got late, which always happens when you're enjoying yourself.  I continually find it hard to stop conversation when you haven't seen someone in a long time and there is just so much to say.  How can you cover five months in only three or so hours?  Plus, she's a particularly fantastic conversationalist.  A wonderful blend of hilarious humor and deep contemplation.  She reads novels, analyzes current topics and is aware of her world.  She is a great mom, but she also remains a great friend.  So many things I love and admire about her.  (Plus she has a wonderful husband who watched the girls while we got to go play!  Woo hoo!)

I'm glad after about four tries of "We really need to get together, I miss you, it's been too long" emails and postings, we were able to get a date down and meet up.  And take our time.  She's really too special to let so much time elapse between visits.  And a cupcake and coffee were just the right relaxing end to a sweet night all around.  Enough bites to feel satisfied, but leaving ample time to keep chatting.

On the drive home, I was passing by another friend's place and tried to entice her with a special door-to-door cupcake delivery.  (I was safe.  I texted while stopped at the red light.)  Afterall, cupcakes are meant for sharing!  (If you can pry them out of your own small cake obsessed hands.)  So go ahead, be generous and share.  Don't worry, they'll make more.