Tonight two of my dearest friends took me out for dinner to celebrate my birthday. I blew out a candle and made a wish. They wouldn’t let me say it out loud (superstition), but I think stating it in an anonymous blog is okay.

My two friends let me spend the better part of the evening talking through an incident in which a person inadvertently hurt, but hurt nonetheless, my feelings. Their loyalty and their encouragement felt like a toasty, cozy blanket on a cold, drizzly afternoon. Their advice and their laughter: a glass of ice cold lemonade on a stifling hot day.

They are friends who understand me. I met them four years ago, when we volunteered for a political campaign. I chose them. They chose me back.

It is so very difficult to find people on the same wavelength as you, who will laugh at your jokes and express anger on your behalf, who “get” you without you having to talk much.

When I think about relocating in a few months (I think six now?), I think about how much harder it will be to connect with them.

So this evening, I wished for grace. I want to remain connected to these two dear friends with ease, fluidity, and flexibility.

I want to make it easy for them to keep choosing me back.

Well, it would appear that we are not moving in the near future. My husband’s career is in a good place, but his employing corporation cannot advance it in the manner they’d expected, because they’re waiting to see what another corporation will do.

So, the kids will start the school year here in four months. My husband will play golf with his new clubs all summer long. I’ll keep up my volunteering with the PTA. We’ll continue to enjoy the tremendous luck we have in living on a street with the best, most loyal and fun-loving neighbors. We’ll get to visit our families a bit more easily this year… we’ll get to see my newest niece or nephew in the fall…

We’re in a happy limbo. We have the very good fortune of knowing how much we’ll be missed, and how much we’ll miss, but nobody has to miss a thing.