The Sheila Variations

A couple of reasons why I love my friend Allison

-- Because we have in-depth conversations about our lives, our thoughts, our men (unfortunately, mine is now named "Humphrey Bogart', but that's another post) ... our anxieties, our fears, our joy in living ... Yes. We have many in-depth quality conversations. But we also have deeply serious conversations about the importance of Drew Barrymore, the lovable-ness of Cameron Diaz, the frightening train-wreck of Britney Spears, the terrifying reality of reality TV, and absolutely obsessive conversations about the show The Office. There are few people on earth I can really talk about pop culture with - in a deadly serious way ... We usually laugh later. "Wow. We just were talking about Justin Timberlake with the UTMOST seriousness." But while we are in it, we are totally IN IT. I love that.

-- We curl up on her bed and watch movies, and re-wind certain scenes immediately to discuss and analyze. "So what was happening there?" "Wait - wait - go back, go back..." "I think that what was happening was that he is feeling competitive with that other guy ..." And then we re-wind, and lean in, and watch the TV screen like lunatics.

-- We share books. Because of her, I was introduced to the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay. I am eternally grateful.

-- We rarely question our craziness when we are together. By that I mean, it is sometimes like we are 9 year old little friends. Last night, we sat in our pajamas on her bed, with a tray across our knees, glasses of wine nearby, eating sushi, and watching Love, Actually. Completely in the moment.

-- One night a while back, we went out to a PACKED bar - somehow found seats at the bar - and proceeded to pretend that we were members of the Shriver family. "Oh yeah, we're Shrivers..." It was so stupid, and so fun. We overheard one guy say to another, "Hey, man, we're hanging out with Shrivers!"

-- And I keep coming back to our love of discussing pop culture. Every element of it.

-- Oh, and she is also completely patient and totally into whatever passion overtakes my life. She does not judge. At this point: I babble about Humphrey Bogart. I babble about him endlessly. She listens, asks questions, and does not say, "Wow. You are insane." Well - sometimes she does - but it's always with love!

It's a beautiful beautiful day in New York. Like a gift from God. Blue skies, rustling green leaves on the trees in Greenwich Village, the sidewalks filled with dogs and owners, babies in strollers, and quiet rays of sunshine coming down. People having coffee, buying flowers, sitting on benches reading.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

Posted by sheila