Thursday, November 6, 2008

Day 80 on Lexapro.

Day 58 on Lamictal.

posted much, much later…

“Tell me again about the squirrel in the purse,” Em excitedly requested.

“Well,” I told her, “My friend Anessa used to have a flying squirrel that she kept in a little purse. And she carried it around with her. Sometimes I would stand and wait for the squirrel to fly to me…and I would stretch out my arms…”

I held out my arms and demonstrated how Sidney the squirrel would jump from Anessa’s arms to my own.

“…like that!”

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This night, I was sick for the third night in a row. My system was worn down and I was exhausted.

I was disappointed because this was the third day I was supposed to have gotten to see my friend Anessa. She had flown into Houston and this week was to be an Anessa-fest for me. First an invitation to bring Em to her house on Tuesday. Then an invitation to see her boyfriend play in a band on Wednesday. Then another invitation to see someone else play in a band this night.

But I felt awful. The two previous nights I had been forced to decline the fun. I could tell this night would be no different.

By the time she called, I was already in my pajamas.

And I had to tell her I felt awful and couldn’t go anywhere.

“But I can’t not see Lori King,” she said.

“I agree. I cannot not see Anessa Ramsey,” I replied.

And so she decided that she would drive all the way out to our tiny hideaway just to say hello.

“I have good news,” I told Em.

“What?”

“Tonight you will meet one of Mommie’s favorite friends. We used to live together.”

“Why did you do that?” Em asked.

“Because we were in college. And it was fun.”

It had been fun. Anessa tells me she still refers to me as her “good” roommate.

Then I led Em into my bathroom and pointed to the big signed movie poster that hangs on the wall in there.

“See this girl?” I asked.

“Yes,” Em repiled.

“Well, that’s Anessa. She is coming to our house.”

And of course Em was excited. Much like me, Em loves to meet new people…especially those who are already a friend.

After some pizza and a bath for Em, Anessa arrived at our doorstep.

I was thrilled.

Before I knew it, she and Em were coloring together.

“Em,” I told her. “Anessa and I used to sit up all night coloring and drawing together when we lived in the same house.

And we had. We both loved to draw.

“Do you know how to write your letters?” Anessa asked.

“Yes,” Em replied. “I can write lots of letters.”

Hmm. I had never thought to ask that myself. She had only been in school two weeks. What could I expect?

“Can you write an ‘M’?” Anessa asked.

So Em drew an “M.”

“And an O?”

Em drew an O.

“How about another M?”

And before I knew it, Em had written ‘MOM.’ All three of us were thrilled.

And then it was time for Anessa to go.

The visit was too short, but certainly better than none at all. I am appreciative that she drove out such a long way.

When she left, Em asked when we could see her again.

“In December,” I replied.

And I hope that is true.