Fast Friends

Disclaimer: by no means does this blog imply that my friends are "fast" or "loose". Well, maybe some of ya'll...



It's week two in NOLA and we are busy making new friends. Cyre has an adoring fan/friend next door, Keller has several boys to call buds, Kev has reconnected with many former hang daddies, and I've met a wonderful group of women too. It feels so good to have my own group of friends, despite already knowing and loving several musicians in town. As one gets older, making friends can seem more of a task than just an experience and I'm thankful it's been such a positive experience for all of us.



Out walking the dog one day last week, the kids and I met a new neighbor also out walking her dog. It turns out she has an adorable granddaughter named Lilly who was ready to make new friends. The very next day, a beautiful, precocious, chatty southern belle turned up at our door ready to play. We've had the pleasure of Lilly's presence every day since and she's made fast friends with Cyre. Though she is friends with Keller, it's Cyre who she longs to play dolls with, discuss fashion, make phone calls and chase after. I'm sure once kids at school meet the new girl, the tiny Canadian and the funny one, Cyre will have a pack of new friends. I use the term pack loosely. Tween girls in a group sound and sometimes act like a pack of hyenas. I know; I was one.

One of my biggest fears in moving to New Orleans was that Keller would have a hard time making friends. Lots of kids don't always get him and his encyclopedic knowledge of wars, weapons and mummies. After six days of pestering his sister and his parents, we desperately called a friend of Kevin's with a son Keller's age and begged them to come over. Keller and Ray hit it off and ended their play date shooting a still video of a Lego war. The only thing I remember shooting at age nine was my mouth off, resulting in me not being able to play with Jennifer Renne for a full year. Yeah. Not a good one...

Just like Keller, our new neighbor Zeke has probably never met a stranger he didn't like. On Monday morning of this week he showed up at my door with an invitation to a red beans n' rice party that evening. His enthusiasm was infectious! I just had to come meet the family that produced such a happy, friendly kid. Since that day, the boys have been inseparable and totally unhappy when family commitments, meals and sleep interfere in their games. I am grateful and relieved.

Kev has reconnected with his former hang daddies and is up to no good already. The smart ass jokes and comments are free flowing and his sense of humor is once more in tact. What's different this time, is that he's more humble and appreciative of full time work. He's working hard at making his band the best it can be and the former Disney employee is in full force. Dress code, stage rules and rehearsals are now part of his weekly routine. What a change from disgruntled posties, threatening dogs and proper dismounts!

To my surprise, I've made friends within my first week here, something I absolutely did not plan on. My first move to New Orleans was rather lonely and it took me several months to make any real friends. This round, it's happened much quicker and I'm thrilled. Am I more open? Yes. Did I have the help of my dear friend Maria? Yes. But, I've made friends with neighbors too and on my own. It takes some chutzpah to walk into a stranger's home full of people and sit down at their table and talk. Thank god for the many years of sales and cold calls; I got me some chutzpah!

The ladies of the Algiers Book Club are a loud and opinionated bunch (their words) and just my cup of tea. I fancy myself both a dame and a broad and these women fit both of these descriptions. Though we'd just met, by the end of the night several of the ladies had asked for my resume, suggested places to take my kids and shared more than a couple of cocktails. We even danced together! I absolutely cannot wait for the next gathering and hope to see many of them sooner.