An Open Letter to All Friends Everywhere

This is me and some of my foolish friends. Please note, not all of my friends are represented in this photo.
That would be sad

To my friends (and to yours),

First of all, thank you.

Thank you for the times in my life when you invited me to your barbeque, and met me at the movies, and called me on my birthday.  Thank you for going out with me when I needed to get out of yoga pants and thank you for coming over when I couldn't bring myself to get out of yoga pants.  

Thank you for dinner. And for the martini.  And especially for the shoulder.

Thanks for not judging me when you found me eating frosting out of the container after I got back from the gym.  Ditto on the time I tried to pass off a bathing suit top as a bra at a bar in New York City in January. 

Thanks for letting me feel like I had my shit together at least 75% of the time.  Thanks for not calling me out on my ugly fucking bangs.

Thanks for letting me make mistakes. I know you knew it and I know I should have listened, but it was way more fun my way and now I won't ever, ever, ever post about my heartbreak on the internet and risk getting called out (actually, nope. I still will.)

There was a time in my life when I didn't think that I needed you.  When I felt strong and brave and so very badly wanted to go at this scary thing called life all by myself. I didn't do a great job of calling you, or inviting you in, or telling you anything.  And I'm sorry for that.  But thank you for letting me come back when I realized just how very important you were.

And I don't know if you know this, but in honor of the friendship code that we signed when you sat next to me in Econ, bought me my first beer in Manhattan, and took me on my first hike in Montana, but I'd like to be a little more clear about our relationship.

Please call me.  Before work, after your run, and most definitely at 4AM.  Sometimes I don't hear my phone ringing, but regardless of how you feel about waking me up, please call back.  Please tell me what you're feeling and don't worry about waking me up.  Spare no details about how the bastard broke your heart, and about how you feel lost and scared starting grad school. I know someday I'll need to call you, and, like always, you'll be there to tell me that it'll all be okay.

Let me buy you coffee.  Because I'm 27 now, and don't have a lot figured out but I do know that I can afford to spend $3.50 and an hour listening.  Don't do that thing where you try to pay for your own coffee because you're proud of your independence and you went to college and shit.  Just let me take care of you for a change.

Invite me over.  I'll come, even if you think it's too far away and you don't want to bother me and you can deal just fine all by yourself even though you've been crying into your pillow for two hours and you've degenerated into cough-sobbing.  I've been there, wishing that my apartment wasn't so empty and that there was simply another person around to help me not feel so damn lonely. I'll bring "13 Going on 30" and we'll both talk about how we can't wait to be thirty-flirty-and-thriving either.  And I'll temporarily change your Facebook password so that you don't log in and post after going out to the bar.

Let me feed you. At the very least I'll heat you up a veggie chicken pattie.  And let you eat directly from the carton of ice cream I keep on reserve.  Food is a way of showing love in my tiny house. For all of the times you've been there for me, the least I can do is put a starch together with a protein and let you occupy my kitchen table for a good long while.

Don't be afraid to ask me for help. Because I'll help you move, unpack, repack, feed your cat while you're gone, write copy for your website, teach you an impromptu yoga class in the park, tell you if you should be wearing those boots with that belt, and be so grateful that I can do all of these things for you.  Seriously. That's what friends are for (or at least that's what Stevie Wonder tells me).

You're a rockstar. I love you so fucking much.

xoxo,

Lauren

Do you have really awesome friends? What are some things you do for your friends? What are some things you wish your friends asked of you?