Fourinarow.net

It’s a sad, sad day here in Tennessee. Not because Dan is sick in bed with the stomach flu. Not because of the sweltering heat, which is keeping the kids inside.

It’s a sad day here because some of our very best friends just moved away. Far away. Far away from here and far away from Chicago (where we’ll be headed soon).

Kristina is the first friend I had here and one of the best friends I’ve ever had. Her kids have spent the last three years with my kids.

When I first met her, I “only” had three. We both had new babies - Max and Luke are just a few months apart in age. She was one of the first to know when there was a fourth on the way, as I had to bow out of our marathon plans. (Ha. As if I would have made it anyway.)

Jack and Riley, our oldest kids, weathered a year of Une Salope together. (That’s the kind of experience that will bind two people together for life.)

Maria, the only girl among all our boys, just loves Kristina. And why wouldn’t she? Kristina just dotes on her - she brings her girly little gifts and paints her nails.

Kristina was there for me when Sam came early and I had no one to watch The Big Three. And she was there for me when I locked my keys in my car at the park. She was the first person brave enough to dogsit Cheerio. And she was my first Uppercase Living hostess and my business cheerleader.

My husband helped her husband get started with homebrewing. (Ummm. Sorry about that.)

The best babysitter in the world is my babysitter, thanks to Kristina’s recommendation and willingness to share. And, I’ve broadened my reading horizons because of her.

I could go on and on. The thing is, is she made this average town a really great place to live. I’m so glad to have lived here and to have gotten to know her. I wish I could say I have been as good as a friend to her as she has been to me, but I can’t. I can only hope to aspire to that in the future.

Unfortunately it’ll have to be long-distance now. Thank God for phones, email and webcams.

Now. Despite the silly pictures here, I’m off to console my daughter, or have her console me, as we’re both in tears.