Ode to Cara

For most of you that know me from Texas, you're well aware that Cara Cook-Hayden has been my BFF since I was 14 or 15 (I can't really remember and I'll explain more later). I was thinking the other day that even though we live far apart, I feel so thankful to have her in my life still. Of course, there is the reason of friendship and trust, but the reasons that I depend on her so much for are my memory and she is a constant reminder of where germs linger.

If I were to ever loose sight of Cara, along with her would go most of my high school, college, grad school, and post college memories. No, we did not live together all of these years, but she's involved in my life enough to take seemingly endless notes in her head. She knows dates of almost every important milestone in my life as well as my children's lives. She knows the names of any guy I ever dated, including those who may have crossed my doorstep only once or twice. If I am friended on Facebook by someone from high school, I immediately send the name to her so she can tell me how they were a part of my past - not kidding. She had her first child, Hank, just one month before I had Sabine this summer. You'd never know I already have a 3 year old because I'm constantly asking her about next milestones and how to do things as simple as introducing solid food (or at least you'd think it was simple to someone who has done it before!).

Her other forte is knowing exactly where most germs like to live. Because of her, I can no longer put my purse on the kitchen table or countertops, I can't lay the car seat anywhere but on the floor, I cringe at the site of a grocery cart handle and am terrified of letting my children play on public indoor play yards, just to name a few. I have Purell in every room of the house, the car, my purse and Naida has one her car seat (neurotic yes). I never thought about the germs purses can carry until Cara mentioned it and I started paying closer attention to all the awful places the bottom of my purse caresses on a daily basis. And, I have to mention that I have no fashion sense what-so-ever, so I have carried the same knock-off Prada bag that my friend ganked for me in New York 3 years ago. This thing must be a germ Mecca and I'm sure its brushed across my children's hands and faces more than once and is probably the cause of their ear infections, croup and crabbiness :)

I wish I could post a pic of you and I, but I can't find the High School photo album you made me. However, I'm sure you have an idea of where it is in my house and I'll get one from there when we talk next! But, until then, I had to rob this beautiful pic of you from your Facebook page. It sums up so much that I love about you: style, dance moves, attitude and great hair.

So Cara, here's to you, I love you deeply as a friend and partner through life. I am just so blessed and overjoyed that you come with so much bonus material like a sooped up mini van with so many bells and whistles included that I can't name them all!

Hopefully one day I can repay you for all that you remind me of and for making me live in a state of germ panic!

I heart you