Friends.

My friend, Melissa, left today. She's headed to Denver to visit a friend from college and then she'll be back in Illinois on Sunday.

One of the lovely things about having a friend who has known you forever is the ease with which you can be around each other. There are no big secrets, no personality flaws that aren't known.

Melissa is fabulous in that she is so easy going. I'm the one with the kids, so she knew we wouldn't be able to sight-see and shop all day long because there would need to be naps and homework and early bed times. She also loves my kids and will pitch in and help out without being asked. Even when Julia would give Melissa her famous stink eye, Melissa just pretended not to see it and continue helping out. Not to mention that she and Evan have gotten along since forever. She's watched Evan and I go from having crushes on each other to her being a bridesmaid in our wedding. I am beyond ecstatic to be her matron-of-honor next September.

I also love the memories that come flooding back when with old friends--teachers we used to have, classmates that we mutually loathed, songs we sung together in junior high.

One thing about this week that meant the most, though, was that Melissa met my friends out here in Colorado and loved them. They loved her too. They talked and laughed and teased. It felt normal having her at our Thursday dinner and talking books with my book club friends. My friends all told me how much they loved Melissa and Melissa, at a completely separate time, told me how much she loved them.

It seems like no matter how much time has gone by between conversations, Mel and I pick up where we left off. I'm never surprised to find out that a book I've just discovered and need to share with her, Melissa has already mailed and has been dying to tell me to go read. It's a comfortable and easy friendship.

My cup is full.