needs.

Driving today, I've realized that I've written more about the people who aren't in my life any more for whatever reason than the ones that are in my life for so many reasons.
So, I swore I would never go back to New Orleans a couple of years ago. I meant it, but I knew it wasn't entirely true. However, that city is the home to some of my most favorite people that roam this planet and it was way past due time to pay them a visit. I mean, I like New Orleans and all, but I wanted to be a tourist in their lives, not necessarily their city.
Sometimes it can be overwhelming to be surrounded by so many people that you know give a shit about you. To know people for 10 years (give or take) and still be invested is pretty amazing. Things change, people do, too. We all have and haven't at the same time and yet we keep finding ourselves at the breakfast table even when it's hard to get out of bed in the morning. (That is both an analogy and true statement in the same breath.)
It was exactly what I needed.
It's so easy to get lost in the shuffle of everything that goes on. We all live our own lives every day. Some of us are together more often than others, some of them it will never matter how much time passes we'll pick right up where we left off, but the point is, we're still getting together. And, I'll always wish it happened more often.
I needed to see some faces for the first time in a couple of years and margaritas and brunches and coffee talk and mani/pedis and sex and the city episodes/what does it all mean relationship talks and oysters (and more oysters) and vodka/red bulls and casinos and cross legged chats in night clubs and patio reunions with more vodka and late night fast food and family brunches and porch time. I needed all of that.
Always leaves you wanting more.
But as I drove home, I took comfort in the fact that I feel confident it'll happen again for the next 10 years (give or take). As much as we bitch about getting older, God, we're getting so much better.