Throwback to the 80's

I would be lying if I told you that the Ionia Skateland is exactly like it was in the '80's. Of course, it has changed since I was last there 20 years ago. Where the walls were orange, they are now purple. However, that is only the bottom 1/2 of the walls. The rest of the place is exactly the same. Same flooring even. This was such a wonderfully awesome surprise to me last weekend when Abby had her 8th birthday party there!!
Yes, the party was a good time. Everyone seemed happy either skating like an Olympian, standing on the wall monitoring, or klutzily tripping and falling everywhere. I, however, just skated a little like someone who's not that great, but never falling (my biggest surprise of the day)! For fleeting moments, I felt like a rock star once again.
Here's the thing--my wonderful, longtime friend Denise showed up from San Antonio with her son Zack. I couldn't resist rolling over on my skates and using her as a brake while I totally bear-hugged the poor woman. She is priceless, that gal. We used to walk up to the rink from SJL every year on the last day of school. The whole school would lace up and show off to the likes of Def Leppard, Poison, Cher, and others. We were all rock stars! You were at the pinnacle of "totally rad" if you won the dice game and went over and traded your ticket in for a "suicide"--a glass of equal parts of every kind of pop and a pickle (or Nerds, for variety). After sharing all of this with friends, you went out there and did it again. Skating was totally nerdy, and incredibly fun all at the same time. Everyone our age remembers the old "skating songs"...and it was fun to laugh with Denise at all the similarities that still exist at the old skating rink. =)
Afterward, we went to Paula's house (Denise's mom) for a little get-together. This made my day near perfect. We spent the whole night eating, eating more, playing cards, and drinking a little. For a Valentine's twist, we rode in Denise's 1980 Jeep Wrangler. In the snow. With no windows. No coats. All around the big country block! That kind of foolishness is the stuff I live for--laughing till the stomach stings, yelling crazy things out of the hole where the window should be, and dreaming crazy things up.
Denise is my favorite. I never feel like I have to clean my house, wear more than sweats, be a leader, or anything at all when I am with her. We have known each other our whole lives. Cheered together for years, played handbells in the balcony at church, gotten into trouble at Outdoor Ed., were married the same summer, had our two oldest at the same time, and complained and laughed and gotten into trouble and out, worshiped Kenny Chesney, the list goes on and on.
I love all of my friends so so much. I think that women in general are strong and smart and mysterious at times. The friends that stick by me when I am totally off base, frazzled, or just plain out there are the ones I think are truly the coolest. Denise has been there my whole life. There's no real medal for that, but there surely should be. I bitch too much, talk too much, preach too much, and tend to tell everyone everything I learn. Which I imagine makes for an especially long ride if you have been there for it--I have a Master's plus some more. I am far too serious at times, and completely carefree and goofy at others.
When I was younger, I took for granted that she would always be a car ride away. It really bums me out that she lives in San Antonio, TX. I have learned to adapt, and her occasional trip home (especially if I am around to visit) is fun...but I sometimes wonder, how many concerts, shopping trips, game nights, and joyrides have we missed?
Overall, it is so important to me that I have her. Whenever she's around, I feel completely at ease. My mind doesn't race to anywhere else, or worry. If I had a chance, I would choose to meet her in the next life (if there is such a thing) 100x over. I am not a perfect friend--but we have had a heck of a life so far. =) As I was skating that day, and she continued on to her mom's before me, that's all I could think of--she's the only one that has been there through it all!

Happy Birthday, Sister from another mother! You are wonderful.