Day 282: Nothing Like Old Friends

Tonight two of my oldest and closest friends came over for a visit. I have known Farrel Freeman and Jill Offer since I was 13 years old.

We attended middle school and high school together; were college roommates in San Francisco together; experienced our parent's get divorced together; lost our mom's together; shared boyfriends, girlfriends, marriages, and life together for more than 30 years.

This year we all turn 50! Wow.

There is nothing quite like an old friend who has known you for so long ... they know your history, how you grew up, your family dynamics, your quirks, your secrets, your dreams & aspirations.

Oh the crazy stories we shared as kids, stories none of us would want repeated today. We've gone through loss, and broken hearts, career changes, child birth... you name it! And it never ends. As we all enter our 50th year we face challenges, reflections, and thoughts about how we want to spend the next 50 years of our colorful lives.

One thing is a solid, we will travel this next chapter together.

Day 206: When A Friend Needs You

I cherish my friendships. Always have. And I take them seriously. I also give a hell of a lot to my relationships. I mean I really give. Of my time, energy, love and compassion. That's why if I feel you don't show me the respect and mutual love that I believe a friendship requires to be successful, then I move on. I have way too many people in my life and not enough time to waste it being in the company of those who I believe have either "dissed" me, not treated me right or basically don't give a damn about me. I give too much to be in this type of relationship.

Another quality I have is loyalty. I have written about my loyalty to people, vendors, friends, and family before on my Blog ... I stay forever... if you are a soul sister or brother, you'll have my heart forever, but not if you treat me wrong. As I approach 50 I have evaluated a lot of relationships ... those that don't offer me anything, have been dropped. I feel like it's an honor to have me in your life. And for my true, dear friends they are cherished and honored in my life.

I received a call today from a friend I met more than 30 years ago when we both were enrolled in an internship program in Washington, D.C. during our junior year of college. She was from New York, me from Los Angeles. She was an Italian Catholic, me an LA Jew. We bonded then and it's lasted all these years. We had our first child the same year. Her son is now a sophomore at University of California, Santa Cruz, mine at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. We both went on to have two more kids... I flew to Berkeley to attend her baby shower and she returned the love to me by flying to Los Angeles during my campaign.

She left a voicemail message today for me. After listening to it I had a pinge in my stomach. Something wasn't right. Her voice didn't sound like the soulful, joyful voice it had always been. This friend was so committed to our friendship that during my campaign for City Council in 2009 she flew to Los Angeles with her teenage daughter during the GOTV (Get Out The Vote) part of my campaign to walk precincts and cheer me on. She wanted to show her daughter a real woman's champion.... I couldn't have been more touched. I had friends here in LA that didn't show up for anything, yet here was a person who flew into town to be with me during one of the most significant times of my life. That says a lot about the character of a person and about our connection.

So today when I heard her voice I knew something was up. When I called her back I reached her voicemail ... I left a message saying I was worried... she sent me back an email saying that she was en route to pick her son up from school, but indeed she was in a funk, and asked how the hell did I know? I knew because that's what friends do. They know when a friend is hurting.

When was the last time you checked on those you cherish? If it's been awhile you better get a move on!

Day 91: ReConnecting

There's something very comforting about being in the company of people who share a history with you. That's why I treasure long lasting friendships.

During my campaign I had many highs and equally as many lows. The wounds are still raw for being let down by certain people that I expected more from while the joys from the wonderful people I met during the campaign and people I reconnected with continue to be my fondest campaign memories.

One such special encounter was when I attended a candidate's forum in Encino. What a surprise I had when a woman tapped me on the shoulder and when I turned around there stood a childhood friend who I had not seen in years. We lost track of one another not because anything had happened other than time and life. When I saw her my heart filled up with happiness that after all these years she cared enough to attend the event to support me.

This friend was Caren Horowitz Kaplow. She and my big sister Michele and I were like sisters growing up. Our Mom was like a Mom to her. We shared some wild times in High School and beyond. Her and Michele were roommates during college and we shared all our Holidays together. Many years had gone by. We have all gotten married, had children and created very full lives. Ever since this encounter we have picked up where we left off. Funny how you are able to do this with people you share a history and bond with.

Since our reconnection we have been making up for lost time by spending time together with our families, playing Rummicub and laughing a lot.

The story even gets better as Caren has also reconnected with an old High School romance, Terence Duffy, and the two of them are now an "item". We all grew up together and can't believe the turn of events in our lives ... As they say what goes around, comes around.

Pictured here are Terence & Caren. Two beautiful smiling faces.

I am grateful for old friendships and thankful that despite all the bumps in the road we have all had to travel we are back in each other's life!

Day 34 & 35: The Bond of Old Friends

This afternoon I attended a beautiful performance at the Foundation House in Beverly Glen Canyon to listen to a High School friend sing. How many of us can say we have an old chum who became an opera singer! Well our class of '79 University High School gals can!

Diana Tash is a talented soprano and mezzo opera singer who has performed at Carnegie Hall, Zipper Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and has performed with the LA Opera the Master LA Chorale and many other groups around the world for the past 20 years. It was such a treat to attend her performance along with my high school gal pals. Pictured above are Beth Bonnet and me in the walkway of the beautifully landscaped Foundation Home. And pictured to the right is our beautiful opera singer friend Diana Tash.

Ever since our 30 year High School reunion last summer we have made an effort to spend time together when possible. There's something very natural and easy about spending time with people who have known you since your teen years. There are funny stories to reminisce about, lives to catch up on and lots of laughs in between. It's amazing how comfortable you feel and how you can pick up on a conversation as if you left off talking just yesterday. Pictured here from left to right are Andrea Honoroff Lurie, Alexis Engel Phillips, Beth Bonnet (top), Diana Tash (bottom), Farrel Freeman, Laura Weber, and me.

Us gals were a fabulous (and wild!) group of young girls in High School who have grown into strong & accomplished women. Many of us have children or pets who are like our kids; we have partners and spouses; we have divorces and never married; we have lost parents and are caring for ailing ones; we have dreams yet to be fulfilled and others that have already come to fruition; we live in and around the Los Angeles community; and what connects us is that while we may not speak daily or even for years we shared a part of our lives together that will never be forgotten. Collectively we have an abundance of memories. Pictured above to the right are Farrel & Me. Pictured to the left are Jill & Farrel.

In addition to being two of my oldest and best friends from Emerson Junior High, Jill, Farrel and I went on to be college students together at San Francisco State University -- Jill and I were dorm roommates and then Jill, Farrel and I all lived together in San Fransisco. Those memories would fill a volume of Blogs!

Following Diana's performance us Uni High gal pals dined together and laughed some more. Several of these women I see regularly and have remained intimately close with. Others I had not seen in 20 plus years until the pre-reunion festivities last summer. What a treat it has been to reconnect with these women over the past year. Pictured left are Andrea Lurie & Vicky Margolis. Pictured below are Beth Bonnet & Alexis Engel Phillips.

Friendship is a gift. Long lived friendships are a treasure. I feel blessed to be back in the spirit and company of all you amazing women! Thank you for making so many long lasting memories with me!

If you'd like to hear Diana's beautiful voice, please purchase a CD by visiting www.DianaTash.com Thank you to Laura Weber & Farrel Freeman for the beautiful photos of a very special afternoon!