Once I had a discussion with a college friend about the hardship related to making friends after college.  It seems like up to that point in your life, you’re free to do whatever, you are still figuring out what you’re all about, and you get to spend a lot of time with the same people on a regular basis, and that in and of itself is a good basis for friendship.

My college experience was different, and even rare, as I attended college in New York City.  Hardly anyone dormed, and we all had to go our very different ways after classes were over.  The overarching similarities were our artists’ souls, and that helped to seal the deal.  The core group I became friends were from: New Jersey, Yonkers, Long Island, the Bronx, and one dorm guy and me, from Queens.  Talk about picking people from all over the place.  But yet we formed some strong friendships, and though it’s been 13 years since I graduated college, I can say that I even spoke to one of those friends last week.  That’s not to say we are all together all the time, but the bond is strong, and I know that we are all special to one another.

I’ve been blessed, though, to have made some extraordinary friendships even after college.  I think it’s my “social butterfly” type personality.  I so need my friends.  That’s why this move is proving to be more difficult on me than I could have imagined.  The fact that I’m either mostly by myself(or with Phoenix) and then I’m in large group-like activities doesn’t help the “making friends” opportunities.

Luckily, though, I think today I might have made a “real” friend.  It’s one of Phoenix’s classmates’ mom.  They just moved here too, and I invited them to join us for a play date at the library.  She was someone whom from the very first few days I talked with her, she always came across as friendly, and always has a smile.  So, after the time at the library today, we even discussed getting together for coffee and having other play dates.  I think this will work.  This makes me happy! Yay!

More art later….

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