Friends in all Places

The older I get, the more I realize what I like in a person as a friend. And I also have started to notice what I don't like in a person. Due to this, I have started to see some of the same traits appearing in my friends over and over again. This is a partial list of traits that most of my friends (and all of my closest friends) have. Do you have them? Then you are probably my friend. And on the flip side of this you can ask yourself "am I her friend? Then I probably have most of these qualities"

1. Smart. I think this would have to be my #1 trait I have found in my closets friends. I don't know why? Did it start in Elementary school in the ALP program (Can I get a "WHAT WHAT!!" for ALP, my peeps?) when I was segregated from my other classes and put with other smart kids for several hours a day? Or did it happen in Junior High when I changed schools right before the 8th grade and found a new best friend with the eventual valedictorian of all North Coast schools? Or did it happen when I chose to live with other kids on the Honors Graduation track at BYU in the dorms? (Not that even half of us graduated with Honors. I think Mindy is the only on that I know of that actually did it).

I don't say these things to be like "OHHH, look at me! I was in smart people classes." I actually don't think that highly of myself. I just say it to point out that at a very young age I was surrounded by smart people. And people MUCH MUCH smarter than myself so I always felt like I had lots to reach for. I was never EVER the smartest person in the room, so PLEASE don't think that I'm tooting my "smartness" horn. There is no horn. Not even a bike ding-a-ling bell.

But I have come to notice that ignorance and low intelligence is not a trait that I desire to be around. Which is not to say that I don't love a little slapstick comedy or a good fart joke. But people who I can't look up and who don't make me try to be a better person? I have no use for you. Sorry if that makes me sound like a people user. I just want to be with smart people. People who correct my English, instead of me mentally correcting theirs. So you people out there, people who read my blog and correct my English and are my friends? You are all exceptionally smart. Except for you, Mindy. PhD candidate, Physics, math and music degrees graduated with honors? Paa-shawww. You are lame. LAAAAME. Seriously, get some initiative girl. You embarrass me. Kidding of course. Which brings me to . . .

2. Funny, or at least willing to laugh at my jokes. , I'm only funny 50% of the time. And most of that time is because I'm doing a bit that I stole from someone else. I spend excessive time laughing at myself and my ridiculousness. I really think a lot of the time that I'm the only one laughing at my jokes, so it really surprises me when someone else thinks I'm funny. And I like that person right away. Because it's no fun laughing at yourself. . . ALONE I can't tell you how many times I've said to Mar "NOW COME ON!!! THAT WAS FUNNY!!!" And he only agrees with me 17-19% of the time

3. A good conversationalist. I like someone I can talk to. This must go along with the intelligence thing, but I like a good conversation. And a fun conversation. And I realize that I talk A LOT. I really do realize it. So I like a person to be willing to let me blab on and on for a while. I'll let you have your turn too, but sometimes a girl's just got to talk.

Also, what is your conversation about? Tell me about a good book you just read, or something that you know about. Like Australia or the time your family lived in Maine for 3 years. Don't talk to me about shoes, or any other fashion/article of clothing. Please don't talk to me about getting your nails done or how you "deserve" to get something. Blecch. But other topics are fine. Your child's bowel movements? Bring it on! An awesome mission story? I'm ready and waiting. The embarrassing date you went on in high school/college? Do it up! That's the kind of stuff I can sit around and listen to for hours. Which brings me to the final item:

4. Returned Missionaries. This isn't a blanket statement. Which is to say that if you are a RM, I don't instantly like you. Nor is it true that if you aren't an RM, we have nothing to say to each other. But I have come to notice that my closest friend are RMs. And the women that I naturally relate to the most in my ward are RMs. And the sites that I blog-stalk? Those that I love the most are written by RMs.

On a side note, I just had to unsubscribe to a blog that I found especially annoying. Written by a Utah dwelling non-RM, who lauded the fact that she wasn't one and that she was so much better than everyone else because she chose education above a mission. I almost left a nasty comment on the way out, but I figured she wasn't worth my time. Blog. . . DELETED!! Why did I hang around there so long? Well, because I enjoyed reading her words and secretly judging and making fun of her. But I decided that wasn't good for me and my pride level, so I just deleted it all together.

But back to being an RM. I don't know. I think it's because missions form you in a way that marriage and school and a normal 18 months or 2 years of life could never do. Again, I don't think I'm better than you because I served and you didn't. Some of my closest friends and family members didn't serve missions. But in a friend, when you find out that someone served a mission, it turns a little switch on in my brain that says, "no wonder this person is cool! I think we are going to get along JUUUUUST FIIIINNNEE!"

Ok, so that's my rant for the day. I need to go and prepare lunch for the Bibbers.

And to answer your question, no, she still doesn't talk. Little thing is doing it now just to piss me off. I know it. Dang girl is too smart for her own good.

Have a good day. And my fellow RMs? Do you remember THIISSSSS??


Do you have a similar one? I know you you!

P.S. I don't know the person in the picture. I found it online. So don't think I sneaked into the boy's dorms to get this picture. That would just be scary. What with all the "Tree of Life" stories. Yuck.