Friends That Make the Heart Go...

Maresa came to visit Houston this weekend and I made a conscious effort to be here in town. It was really nice seeing her. It felt like old times. We went to the Art Festival Saturday and as I was walking up she saw me. So this is my life. I am walking through the gates and a guy stops me and says it costs $8 to get in. Of course I was like $8? Are you crazy? But I went back to the booth to purchase the ticket and then Maresa comes up and says no Kim I got you. I protested, but then she showed me a ticket. So I’m thinking maybe she has Brittany’s, who is the other fine young lady in the picture. As we walk through the gate we show the same snaggle-tooth guy our tickets and as I pass through he touches me on the butt and says some epithet like, “You go ahead honey.” I was like he touched my butt and then Maresa tells me that he’s the one that got me in for free. He gave the ticket to Maresa to give to me. Well whatever. Normally guys touch my butt and I get nothing for it, just the feeling of being molested. At least this time I got in free somewhere. Who says their not assets. :0)



So then after the Greek festival we went to have Greek food at a restaurant in the famous Montrose area, called Niko Niko’s. The food was really good of course. The ladies and I lounged on the patio drinking Snapple, handing our onions to Maresa, and talking shop. It was fun. We exposed little innocent Brittany to our exploits in Columbia, after she left. And she clearly expressed that she was glad that she left when she did. After dinner we found the real Greek festival that we were looking for the whole time. After watching some traditional Greek dancing and Maresa buying the longest pasta that I have ever seen we jetted out of there. It was packed and diverse. There were all kinds of people. Brittany said to me that she thought it was funny when she saw someone that looked like a red neck walk by someone the looked Polish or Latin. It was different. We were planning to go out that night but after everyone got home at 9 pm, it didn’t feel like a ladies night out.



The next day was church, but I did not go. Maresa and Brittany went to Maresa’s uncle’s church. She said the sermon was sound but there were not a lot of people there. Only 5. I told her there are a lot of neighborhood churches like that in Houston that only get packed on Easter Sunday. She invited me to have dinner with them at P.F. Chang’s. Of course I said yes. We had a fabulous dinner and I was really full. I was such a pig and I normally not. But I had not eaten all day. For dessert we had banana spring rolls. They were delicious. That night Maresa spent the night with me and we got to reminisce like we used to, lying in the bed in the dark just talking. We both agreed that it felt like yesterday when we would do the same thing when we lived together in Columbia. But I knew I needed to savor it cause it could be the last time. We are adults now, for real. Strange. I have a real job. She’s about to live Intel school and enter the workforce of the Air force. Brittany already has a job for an advertising agency here in Houston.



The next morning my Dad cooked a good ‘ol breakfast with country potatoes, turkey sausage, grits, and strawberry waffles. It was good and decadent in a Houston hometown way. I got ready and dropped her off at the airport. That was the end of her visit and it made me realize how true friends are so important. It’s too bad that they are all spread out. If I had my way we would all be able to see each other any day we want and eat as much shake’s as we want without gaining a calorie. Miss you girls. :0)