So I think I left off with my bangs yesterday.
My bangs that I really like when I take the time to blow them dry and fix the rest of my hair but are currently pulled back in a bobby pin because it was 102 degrees today and I couldn’t deal.
On Tuesday night, while Missy was still at the house and we were evaluating Pinky and Pinky’s cheap sister, Angie dropped by and we decided it might be fun to go toilet paper someone’s house.
(I would say wrap a house. Some people say roll a house. Maybe it’s regional? Or generational? I don’t know.)
Anyway, I can’t really explain why we were so enamored with the idea other than it’s perfectly normal for a bunch of forty-year-old women to load up a twelve pack of Charmin and hit the neighborhood. Initially we were going to wrap our friend Hite, but ultimately decided on our friends Jamie and Trevor because they have three boys ages ten and under and would never suspect us because who does that?
We do.
So we woke up Jen’s husband to let him know we’d be back in a little while after we finished wrapping a house and to his credit he didn’t even question us or our sanity. Then we loaded up in the car, piled the toilet paper in the baby’s carseat and headed out like a group of twelve-year-old girls. Except without all the fake drama.
As we circled the block calculating our plan of attack, Angie voiced a concern that the police might show up and arrest us. But we decided we could explain that Jen couldn’t spend the night in jail since she had chemo early the next morning and a baby waiting for her at home.
Yes.
This is a normal scenario.
Ultimately we parked right in front of Jamie and Trevor’s house and went to work. Sadly, it became evident that our toilet-papering skills weren’t what they used to be. I must have thrown one roll of Charmin in the air fifty times before I could get it over a tree limb.
(I realize this is a horrible photo but I was scared of getting caught and trying to be very stealth-like.)
Our decidedly un-ninja like skills paid off and we made a clean getaway.
Then we went home and crashed.
The next morning Gulley and I kept Linc while Jen went to chemo and we decided we’d forgotten how exhausting it is to have a one-year-old baby. I’m sad to report that it took both of us to change his diaper even though I tried to be a self-righteous diaper changer and told Gulley, “Here, just let me do it” right before he squirmed out of my reach and crawled his naked bottom away from us as fast as he could. That’s when Gulley looked at me and announced, “It’s only 9:15.”
But Missy showed up to cut my bangs and then our friend Hite stopped by to visit and showed us his car with its new fancy technology.
Assuming that you time travel back to the early 90s when built-in car phones with a cord were fancy.
Hite helped us load up Linc and we went to lunch so we could visit more and eat this plate of cheese fries.
Seriously.
Heart attack on a plate.
We felt like it was a developmental milestone to introduce Linc to his first plate of cheese fries. But we made sure he steered clear of the jalapenos.
After lunch we all needed a nap. We put the baby to bed and Gulley and I both collapsed, ready to crash. Unfortunately this was timed with a surprise visit from some of Jen’s relatives who decided to stick around and keep us company and share all manner of theories on life. None of which I really wanted to hear, but felt forced to nod politely instead of saying, “WELL, GOODBYE NOW. I NEED A NAP.”
The good news is Jen made it home from chemo, took a nap and then felt fine the rest of the night. We were able to catch up some more and eat dinner and just enjoy being together. But we refrained from wrapping any more houses.
I told Gulley that night as we crawled into bed that our visit to Dallas caused my inner junior high girl to come out. In the span of twenty-four hours I let someone I barely know cut my hair just because I thought hers looked cute and threw a twelve-pack of perfectly good toilet paper all over a friend’s yard. All I needed was to call someone and hang up when they answered and then unlock my diary and write all about the heartache of seventh grade while listening to Air Supply and the cycle would have been complete.
But more than haircuts or chemo or toilet paper, our time in Dallas was so precious to me. Gulley, Jen and I met over twenty years ago. We’ve been through deaths, births, breakups, marriages, career changes and every other form of drama you can imagine. We’ve laughed and cried and gotten on each other’s nerves and run up phone bills back in the days when long distance calls still existed.
There is something that is indescribable about old friends. You can tell new friends about a story from your past and they may laugh and appreciate it, but the old friends lived it with you. They remember the 1965 Mustang you all had to push across Villa Maria the night it died or that you’ve never been a fan of someone asking how you REALLY are or those ugly red jeans from Express that you never should have worn. You can tell them a story without having to fill in all the details because they know them already. They can look across the table at you and say, “That situation hasn’t changed in twenty years” and make you feel normal because you know they get it. They get you. With all your flaws and quirks and insecurities.
They’re your family when you need a family. Your therapist when you need to talk.
And your co-conspirators when you get the urge to wrap someone’s house.
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Having a friend that you can be “real” with is a blessing……
People forget what you do or say….but they NEVER forget how you made them feel….
Can I just say how much I have loved these last 2 posts? It has reminded me so much of what’s important – and how fortunate we are if we have even 2 friends who know us inside and out. True, genuine, long-lasting friendships are so rare and should be treasured, just as you obviously have. Praying for your friend, Jen – and prayers for her sweet support group as well.
Can I just say how much I have loved these last 2 posts? It has reminded me so much of what’s important – and how fortunate we are if we have even 2 friends who know us inside and out. True, genuine, long-lasting friendships are so rare and should be treasured, just as you obviously have. Praying for your friend, Jen – and prayers for her sweet support group as well.
What a blessing to be able to be able to visit with Jen and help out! Not just for her but for you as well.
We used to call it “wrapping” back then. I was always scared of getting caught so I wasn’t usually very helpful.
Friends are friends forever….yes, we will all be singing that tune today
Loved the part about your 12 year old self (hilarious.) Also thank you for validating that mother’s of small children have it rough sometimes. I love my babies but I am not gonna lie…I’m looking forward to some more freedom as they get older. 
Sending prayers up for Jen too.
I am going to go and call my high school friend and catch up. Well, I may let her wake up first. She will think it’s an emergency if I call right now
Thanks for sharing your lovely story!
what happened with the house you rolled??? One measly picture!
Love this! Friends who go way back are a salve to a hurting soul. And of course partners in crime when toilet papering friend’s houses. Ha!
I have wonderful memories going out TP’ing with the high school youth group. When the police were called the PASTOR came to our rescue to vouch for us hoodlums and got us out of trouble. Ahhhh, memories and friends and there’s something about having “history” with others, they totally get you!
we called it TP-ing too. NW Indiana.
I love college friends (especially my Aggie ones!) I also LOVE Snuffers Cheese fries and am so jealous. We will keep your precious friend and her family on our prayer list.
1. If you bring your table to Indy, I’ll totally drive a motorized cart to get my free book.
2. It’s so wonderful that you have such good friends and I love that last picture but it’s a shame Gulley has unsexy hair.
Beautiful! And I liked your title the way it is. : )
Old friends just grow even more precious as time goes on. What a gift you and Gulley gave to Jen….more emotional than the babysitting etc.!
Yes, so 7th grade and I am way older than you! We always ended up cutting someone’s hair at a slumber party…..
And in a few years, you will be the ” cool ” mom who takes all the kids rolling after football games….! I was one of those, and loved it as much as the kids!!
This post made me tear up – there’s really nothing like old friends. (And that plate of cheese fries was just absurd.)
Off topic– just wanted to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your blog entry over @ PW on Duck Dynasty. I would neverhave checked it out without your suggestion. I love them. I want to marry Jase. I understand he has a girlfriend already but once he knows me he will understand he needs me in his life.
I’m looking forward to one of those reunion type get-togethers soon. We’re crashing the pool at a friend’s parents’ house, just like we did back in the good ol’ days. Except now there are spouses and kids involved. The best irony? That pool is where I got my finger broken. And I have the exact same finger broken again right now.
Just when I tell myself I won’t read any more of your “Friend” posts, I do….then I’m depressed, and I cry……
My oldest, dearest, bestest friend….my Gulley….decided that apparently I was not her Gulley, and has deleted me from her life….
It has been the worst 2 1/2 years, going it without her. My husband doesn’t get it…..”just make new friends”………so thank you for summing it up so well, new friends don’t have the last 25 years of memories.
After these last 2 posts, I can’t help but wonder, if I had a baby, then needed chemo….who would come see me?
You are so very, very lucky……….
Friends like that are awesome! One of my closest friends I have known for over 30 yrs. Oh and the wrapping a house thing. We did that not to long ago to. Must be something in the air. But we added a few pink flamingos and some yard signage. It was awesome!!!
Snuffer’s cheese fries dipped in ranch is one of the comfort foods I eat with my womb to tomb friend LL. We also drink a picture of beer and then ” split ” a burger – because we don’t want to indulge. Oh the irony!
I think you summed it up so well “They get you. With all your flaws and quirks and insecurities.” There is such comfort in that.
Um, are those cheese fries from Snuffer’s? I think I recognize them and my heart both palpitated and constricted just looking at them. And you are so right about old friends. God bless your’s and here’s hoping the chemo is effective and she is back to normal so you can built many, many more (heinous and embarrassing) memories together!
Precious post. You’re right that there is just something extremely special about those friendships that have stood the test of time. My best friend has been just that since we were nine years old. That means (*gasp*) over 35 years now. Her daughter is nine and we just look at each other and laugh when we think of how LONG we’ve known each other. FOREVER and a day. We hold a lifetime of stories in hearts. Blessed beyond measure is what we all are.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading these “friend” posts. Such a blessing that you three have each other. I think it is terrific no matter what age you are that you can be a free spirit, be yourself and have fun with your friends.
Just look at it as keeping your skills razor sharp because in a few years, you will be driving the get-away car for Caroline and her friends. You might even be hiding in bushes with water guns with her when a friend tips her off that your house will be wrapped. Just a guess…
I love your post. Thanks for being my “remember me when” friend. You were the first person that I thought of A.D. when I needed to talk to someone that knew me as a person and not as a couple.
I’m glad that Gulley and Jen have that too. You are some kind of special.
I love this. My 2 best friends and I go back around 12ish years and we plan on adding to that number. Great post.
Tell Gulley that last picture of her gives me a Tami Taylor vibe. It’s the hair, the tan, and the cool aviators.
GAH!!! TP-ing & snuffer’s cheese fries???? i’m soooo craving a plate now! and, so planning a TP run soon!
Toilet paper and cheese fries. Hopefully, one doesn’t inspire the use of the other. Your friendship with these ladies sounds beautiful. And inspirational. Thank you for sharing about this grand adventure with these friends of yours.
What fun in the wake of a tough life challenge. You guys ROCK!
Was your friend serious about his new technology? I love it!
Friends like you are the type of friend that we all dream about.
Seriously…can I be your friend? That seems like the most fun time ever! And Gulley’s hair looks awesome (although I did buy the travel size big sexy hair items today for my upcoming trip). You guys are so awesome to care about your friend Jen in that way. I’m sure it meant so much to her.
Just one question: Why did you use the expensive Charmin to “TP” (as we say out West) someone’s house instead of the cheap stuff? That picture of you all is great. Today I had lunch with girls I went to high school with 50 years ago. Aren’t friends wonderful? And do you like how I still call them girls?
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Too precious and fun!
So fun! What a wonderful trip!
Oh, I love this. Friendship is beautiful.
My best friend Allison and I share this amazing bond too. When I’m with her (which is sadly not very frequently) it’s like we are 10 all over again! I’m am so blessed and your post reiterated that to me! Thank you and prayers for Jen that she continues to have good chemo days and that she heals beautifully!
I subscribe to your blog now because I don’t want to miss an entry. (with my cool iphone I find I hardly ever even boot up my computer!!).. However, reading entries on my email makes it harder for me to comment. I just had to comment on these last two entries about your visit to Dallas, because I have got to say.. You have such a gift for words. You make me laugh, you make me cry, you make me wish we were friends in real life and it’s not just me considering us friends in a (totally non-stalkerish) way… I have just loved reading about this trip in so many ways..
You are so right, the long time friends are the best. They remember you in ways only family can, and they can look at you and laugh and you can’t get insulted because you know exactly what they are remembering.. I have moved over 900 miles from where I grew up, but still get back there at least twice a year and I always always try to make time to see my closest friends. We realized on my last visit two weeks ago that we have known each other over FORTY YEARS… we are all a very young feeling 53 and that just blows our minds. There have been years and times that we didn’t talk much, but when it matters, we are there for each other. It’s such a beautiful thing, and reading these last entries just made me even more grateful for them…. Grateful that I found your blog years ago, because you help me remember and appreciate the things that matter most to me.
You also make me laugh so hard sometimes that I snort. That’s not pretty.
Thank you for writing and sharing your life. It means so much to so many. Can’t wait to read your book!!!
What a precious story! How blessed you all are to have each other as “old” friends.
Such a fun time! Sounds like you and Gulley lifted the spirits of a good friend!
I just had to share two things….the TP thing..
One of our many military moves brought us to Pensacola, FL where most neighborhoods had old, huge trees. It was THE thing to have done to you. If your house did NOT get TP’d, you must not be cool.
And as a mother of a twenty year old who went through chemo and radiation for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma….she can fight it! My son has a follow up scan next month, but all seems well, so life is GOOD!
Thanks for the big laughs when I visit!