Here's to friendship
Monday, January 28, 2008
Good evening one and all--
My last post got me thinking about friendship and how important it is in my life. I am fortunate to have a group of girlfriends that are always there for me. Many of them are writers, women I've met throughout my twenty-some years in this business. We get together rarely, but talk on the phone a lot. We are all very grateful for technology--our phone bills used to make our husbands swoon. Now, though, its free to talk and talk and talk. We've even begun to text back and forth so that we're always in communication. The best part about going out with writers is the direction of our conversation. People overhearing us might think we were murderers, vampires, princesses, or just about anything. Once my editor and I were in a hot tub at a day spa, talking about one of my novels, and very cavalierly tossing out ideas about how to kill someone. It took us a while to notice how people were looking at us...
I also have my childhood friends--this group primarily stayed in the small town where I once lived (where Firefly Lane is set, actually). My college friends are scattered all over the globe, but most are married career women/mothers, with whom I still have plenty in common. Even if we don't see each other much, I think of them often and fondly. And then there are the friends I made as a young mother. Most of them have kids the same age as my son, who went to the same school, and we kept each other sane throughout the years. I don't know that I would have made it through the teen years without their support and friendship.
Okay, I'll be honest: mostly sane. No one who has a teenaged son is absolutely sane. They suck it right out of you. :)
And since I'm admitting that I'm not entirely sane, I think I'll add some of my characters to my friends list. In many ways, they're portraits of my friends and family, and even of myself. More importantly, I spend a lot of time with them, so even though they're fictional, sometimes they help get me through the tough times, too. I told you I was crazy.
Kristin
My last post got me thinking about friendship and how important it is in my life. I am fortunate to have a group of girlfriends that are always there for me. Many of them are writers, women I've met throughout my twenty-some years in this business. We get together rarely, but talk on the phone a lot. We are all very grateful for technology--our phone bills used to make our husbands swoon. Now, though, its free to talk and talk and talk. We've even begun to text back and forth so that we're always in communication. The best part about going out with writers is the direction of our conversation. People overhearing us might think we were murderers, vampires, princesses, or just about anything. Once my editor and I were in a hot tub at a day spa, talking about one of my novels, and very cavalierly tossing out ideas about how to kill someone. It took us a while to notice how people were looking at us...
I also have my childhood friends--this group primarily stayed in the small town where I once lived (where Firefly Lane is set, actually). My college friends are scattered all over the globe, but most are married career women/mothers, with whom I still have plenty in common. Even if we don't see each other much, I think of them often and fondly. And then there are the friends I made as a young mother. Most of them have kids the same age as my son, who went to the same school, and we kept each other sane throughout the years. I don't know that I would have made it through the teen years without their support and friendship.
Okay, I'll be honest: mostly sane. No one who has a teenaged son is absolutely sane. They suck it right out of you. :)
And since I'm admitting that I'm not entirely sane, I think I'll add some of my characters to my friends list. In many ways, they're portraits of my friends and family, and even of myself. More importantly, I spend a lot of time with them, so even though they're fictional, sometimes they help get me through the tough times, too. I told you I was crazy.
Also, for those romantics out there, I want to say that the movie Atonement had one of the mostly exquisitely romantic moments I've ever seen on film. Definitely swoon worthy. In fact, James MacAvoy's (spelling?) whole performance was killer.
bye for now,
Kristin
7 Comments:
I have friends from grade school. We're not as close, but we do still keep in touch. My friends from high school are still pretty close with me. I'd have to say I drift in and out of closeness with my college friends. Some I'm just rediscovering through the Internet which is great. I have friends who share hobbies (my book friends and my movie friends). I have girl friends and guy friends.
I love friendships because they're not bound by anything. They just like you.
I do have to admit that I don't have a best friend. I never really did. I always just had a friend for whatever mood I was in or for certain situations.
As for Atonement, my friends read the book and loved the movie. I made it through 1/4 of the book and didn't care to see the movie with them. I'm not really into romantic movies. I don't know why. I do love a good romantic book.
I agree. Friends are so important. That's one of the reasons I'm really looking forward to your new book. It sounds like exactly the type of read I love. Oh, and glad to see your recommendation of Atonement. It's definitely a movie I want to see.
Friendship is so important to me..It should be to everyone..As a mom I've had the best of friends, even though we don't see or talk everday I know we will always be friend..I really don't know what I would do without them..
I also have a very close friend who keeps me sane during times that are really hard. I can come to her crying and she'll be right there to support me and make me feel worthy..
You are one of the smartest most thoughtful people I have ever known. Sanity is over-rated! Friends however are not. It's important to stay close to those you care about, cuz in the end they are your life, your story. Rock on Kristin, can't wait for 2/5/08. ...and when are you going to be in Leavenworth for a book signing? Lot's of snow and it's gorgeous as you know. Mary
I have to admit, I've lost touch with my friends from high school and I didn't have any close friends from elementary school. Part of it is that I moved away from my home town, and country, in an age where you kept in touch via long distance phone calls and letters. I'm not a great letter writer and was too poor to keep up with the phone calls. My parents still live in that town and one day I'm going to go back and look some of the old gang up.
I have many good friends now that I've made because of writing or because we have mutual interests. I don't have a single best friend, but the friends I do have who I cherish I know have my back, just as I have theirs. We can tell each other anything in confidence and we know the confidence will be kept.
With so much technology, I'm able to keep in touch with so many people around the USA and around the world. I chat daily via IM with friends in VA, LA, WI and just down the road. And I make new friends all the time. These people are important, whether it's because they share an interest or passion with you and therefore help you feel like you're not a freak for talking about fictional characters like they're real, or whether they really nurture your soul in that deep connected way we all need. And best of all, they choose to be your friend because you're you, not because they have to like you, lol!
I loved the novel Atonement but I haven't seen the movie...yet. I'm trying to get the Husband to take me on a date night, but we just reviewed our budget - or rather how we over spent our budget - for 2007 so I think it's going to be a hard sell until it comes to the second run theater for $2.00 a ticket. *sigh*
Hey girls--
I love hearing your own views on friendship. It's true that there's something really magical--and quite unusual--about a friendship that lasts throughout the decades. Perhaps that's why I found this story so compelling. To stay friends through thick or thin, good years and bad, tough times and easy, takes as much work as a long term marriage does. You have to be able to compromise and forgive. Perhaps forgive most of all. We often hurt each others' feelings, even unintentionally, and it takes a strong person to stand up and be accountable for that.
So, thanks for your own thoughts. And to all of you, I wish you a great time with a good friend in this Valentine's month.
my best,
Kristin
Hey Mary from Malaga--
You rock, girlfriend! Thanks for checking in. Hope to see you and the gang on the book signing tour, if not before.
xo
k
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