This past weekend changed me.
Michael, Emma, Whitney and I traveled to Shreveport for last past 5 days for a weekend of reunion with my friends and for the 70th anniversary of the Centenary College Choir and Rhapsody. Michael, Emma and I hadn't been back there since January! We had a tour of food itinerary and an abundance of friends waiting!!! I expected to leave there missing my friends and family, but I really am surprised at how I feel back in Chicago.
Our weekend was AMAZING! Filled with mexican food, booze, concerts, late night happy hour, late night round-the-fire chats, celebrating Amelia's first birthday, telling stories we've already told thousands of times and laughing at them like it was the first time we heard them, and my very best friends. Introducing Shreveport to Whitney was a lot of fun as well. Love that city and never knew I would be homesick for sweet Shrevegas that I swore I hated. We left with lots of memories and with probably an extra 5 lbs each. haha AND we started wondering why this can't be our lives all. the. time.
I talked to my mom on the phone while we were there and she said "Lesley, I haven't heard you this happy in a very long time. I hope you can find a way to be this happy for the years Michael is in school in Chicago." Whitney looked at Emma while we were driving and just said "I generally had a great time. You guys are so lucky you found each other." After we got back Emma and I looked at each other and just couldn't believe that, what, we will NEVER have as much fun as we did this weekend since we will never live near each other again!? I really don't enjoy that and seriously not a good time.
When I moved to Shreveport 4 years ago, I never knew I was gaining a family. I never knew that I could have friends that feel like I couldn't live without them. I genuinely am in love with my friends I met in Shreveport.
If I learned anything from this past weekend is that we have all tried to live apart for, like, 3 years now. No one has even come close to having friends that equal what we all have. I know that it's a long shot, but we all should live near each other. How? Not sure. But all I know is that I haven't had as much fun in probably a year like I did this past weekend. Probably since the last time we were all together.
So I guess in truth, my friends changed me. This past weekend just changed my mind.
