Caipirinhas.

Caipirinha was the unexpected cocktail featured at the unexpected "party" that we gathered at our place tonight. K & L returned from Ecuador last week eager to share their travel experience down to the fermented sugar cane drink. R & C came too. Our little girls played, and for the first time it was pretty easy - no meltdowns, no constant neediness, and actual adult conversations going on. Are we ushering in a new era in our lives perhaps?

I suppose this evening may've represented that in other ways too. The whole adult friendship thing has been challenging these past 7 years in Portland. But in all fairness, the 15 years in LA enabled friendships to be built without couplehood & babies complicating the matter. And if we had stayed in LA with kids, I'm certain that evenings like tonight would be few and far between, and that we'd be seeking the same change we made by moving here. So tonight was fun, easy, and all around positive energy -- the kind of casual evening that colors memories when one looks back on his/her life. And with N & I being gregarious by nature, this sort of improvisational dinner party - as much as we complain about the cleanup - I think feeds the core of who we are. So here's to more positive, easy friendships - ones that grow deep and come with unexpected caipirinhas.