Silver and Gold

This is a guest post by Rose, from It's My Life. I'm participating in The Blog Exchange today, and you can find me at Rose's spot. Read on below, and enjoy her great post.

The green numbers on the alarm clock glow brightly in the dark room. 2:13 a.m. The baby is whining in her bassinet, she’s only moments away from a complete meltdown. I blink myself awake and I hoist myself out of bed, gather the swaddled child into my arms and head into the living room where I click the computer to life as I settle myself on the couch.

Even before Little L has latched on, an Instant Message window pops open; a friend in France is checking up on me. You would think I would be annoyed about being up in the middle of the night, but I secretly enjoy the late night feedings. It’s the perfect time to connect with some of my oldest friends. I type updates to the sweet sound of the gentle slurping. I discuss husbands and friends. I give advice and I receive friendly words of wisdom. I learn about the trials and tribulations of the lives they are living so far away from me. And all too soon the baby is done and I log off again with a final bonne journée. By the time I get up again, my friends will be busy with their evening routines, too preoccupied to chat.

I grew up in France. I didn’t move stateside until I was well into my twenties. These friends I chat with are my oldest and truest confidantes. I’ve made new friends here in California; some through work, some through acquaintances, and even some through the computer. I love these new friends. They are the ones I rely on to get my through the week. We chat on the phone; vent about the day to day stuff. We go out, we play. They are here, in this world I have created in the Bay Area, but they don’t know me the way my old friends know me.

My local friends don’t know about my high school and college years. They don’t know my family. They weren’t around when I broke up with my first boyfriend, or the second one for that matter. They don’t know how I became me. They do know my kids and my husband. They know what I like to eat, and where I like to shop. They know when I have tedious meetings, or big scary doctor’s appointments. They know who I am now.

When I think of all these friends sprinkled around the globe I can’t help but think of the old adage. “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, but the other’s gold.” These people, be they local or on the other side of the world, they’re all my peeps, my homeys, my pals. Our collective memory and the story we are weaving defines me. They’re love is what keeps me going. They’re the reason I shine.

This was a guest post written by Rose at It’s My Life... in honor of this month’s blog exchange. When I’m not busy working, cooking, running after my toddler, C, or nursing the new baby Little L, I’m usually hiding in the bathroom thinking up my next blog post or trying to read a chapter or two of the book I’m currently wading through. When I do come up with something witty to write about, you can read it here where your usual blogger extraordinaire is blogging today. Go on over and read her post and don’t forget to check out all the other blog exchange posts this month!