so there i am, staring intently at the microwave clock....8:05. 8:10. five more minutes and i'm breaking open the champagne myself.
i spend a few minutes with my best friend, Eyeliner. unfortunately, we can only have fun for so long and then it gets to be too much so i move on to mousse. finally, lipstick and i have a quick tango.
as i told michelle later, i spent the whole night getting ready to stare at myself in the mirror.
i'm not vain, just curious.
michelle finally shows up when i'm halfway through the bottle and one episode into season three, disc three of sex and the city. i'm feeling vicious and sexy as we light each other's cigarettes and scream with delight at those colorful characters.
we go outside to get some fresh air. i tell her about wednesday, or whenever it was; she says she had no idea that she walked in on us. i tell her she's lying, but she maintains that she wouldn't have known had i not told her and she swears, joanna doesn't know.
that's good, because joanna will judge, but michelle gives me validation.
joanna shows up when we're four episodes into the dvd, fresh from watching her dad race in portland. the alcohol's long gone and the bubbles went straight to my head. i'm officially beyond tipsy wishing someone would call so i wouldn't drunk dial anyone important.
we're done with the disc and half-heartedly reflecting. i don't think any of us are really propronents of ceremony, but for some reason i want something to mark the end of our little adventure.
they say don't live with your best friends, lest you lose them, and we had quite a few downs, but fuck; the memories are worth it.
remember nate, and ohmygodwhatisthat? and that first guy who helped me christen the place? and bumbershoot and modest mouse and the guy who let me sit on his shoulders? meeting the neighbors and trying to figure out what the fuck is wrong with them? kyle and kyle and KARL!? the cases and cases of beer and bottles and bottles of liquor? miller highlife, anyone? when michelle became the local pothead for blocks around?
when aaron came over for the first time, and the giggling conversations, the emails: "i just want you to know that you look so happy, loving and being loved"?
the fights about the mold in the bathtub, the dishes, cleaning out the refrigerator and wasn't this here when we moved in?
joanna's essay about my obvious lack of self-respect and the month we didn't talk? until i called michelle sobbing and she came and helped me move out of aaron's and back into here and joanna giving me a hug, she's glad i'm back? the walk we took the next day all around fremont and talked and talked to make up for a month of silence?
joanna's creaking bed -- um, they're fucking again -- michelle's constantly changing bed partners, aaron living with us for a few weeks until you guys kicked him out?
remember esp visiting and the first time we paid our very own rent and the first bill we received -- we did not use that much energy and i thought this was covered in our rent -- the first time we realized how much our landlord screwed us?
remember the first time we all hung out for the first time since sea camp in 7th grade and we went to polly esthers and pretended we were lesbians? remember when michelle kissed me and smitty being our fourth roommate for a little while?
remember painting the table and my side was all red and black and joanna's was all geometric and michelle's was all rainbows?
remember redocorating the apartment?
remember me teaching you guys how to dance in front of the mirrors?
i guess i can stop now.
in any event, i'm not sad it's over, and i'm glad it happened.
and this was the best year of my life. thanks.