Last week was one of the better weeks of 2012.
I typically suffer from a bit of residual homesickness after I’m back at MY home after a holiday. Also, last week was my first full week back in the office since August, so I was little apprehensive about returning to the office environment. I’m so used to making my own schedule during travel season; readjusting is always a little bit tricky. Anyway, needless to say, I was NOT expecting last week to be spectacular.
And again, I was wrong. I’m wrong a lot.
Early in the week, I had lunch with an old friend. He was one of my closest friends when I first moved out here; I have missed him so much since he left, but it was wonderful to sit and talk and laugh with him and some of our mutual friends. It felt exactly like every other lunch we’d ever had. I’m thankful that nothing feels like it’s changed — a few more miles between our houses but not much else besides that.
In other news, some of my friends formed a band about a year and a half ago, and their first album came out last week. When I talk about them and how talented they are, I think people think I’m just saying that because I know them, but the truth is that I would love them just as much if I didn’t know them. They’re that good. Naturally, I am obsessively, crazily proud of the boys — so proud, in fact, that when I first heard the finished album, I cried at my desk at work. I am not even remotely embarrassed to admit that.
And the very best news: A sweet former coworker of mine and her husband welcomed their second baby boy into the world on Saturday. He is healthy and precious and beautiful, and I am just delighted for their whole family. And if things can’t get any better, there’s this: One of my very best friends and her husband are expecting their first child this summer. She and her husband are going to be amazing parents; their baby is already so lucky to have them as his or hers.
Hearing my best friend tell me such beautiful news was probably the best moment of last week, which is saying something. I started crying as soon as she said it, of course. That’s been a theme this week: being happy to the point of tears. With happiness, I think there’s a point where you can’t do anything but cry. It’s past happy, past ecstatic, past giddy, past joyful, past all of that; you’re just overjoyed, and there’s nothing else in the world you can do but laugh and cry at the same time. But, as Truvy from Steel Magnolias says, “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.”
