Stories of my friends: Jessica
Jessica Hall and I weren’t always friends. The truth is, we didn’t even like each other when we first met. She thought I was snotty (because of the company I kept — and, let’s be honest, I don’t blame her), and I thought she didn’t have a personality (because she never actually spoke).
Then I lost some baggage, and she decided that she was going to just be herself and start talking. A lot. And now, we’ve been close for so long, that it’s hard to write about her.
Still, I’m going to try.
Jessica has been by my side during some of the most difficult times in my life. She has expressed my anger for me when I wasn’t quite ready to do it myself. She has made sure I asked for help when I was feeling too independent. She even sat through a procedure with me until my pain made her pass out. This is the kind of person she is.
But she is not boastful about her kindness. Also, and this is important, she is never saccharine. It’s true. I don’t know anyone else younger than 50 who is as genuine and no-bullshit as Jessica.
She has a surprisingly kooky side, too, where she will express joy over something small with child-like (and loud) enthusiasm. Or she will don a Spiderman mask and shoot invisible webs out of her wrist in a parking lot.
And there’s this: Jessica doesn’t like the taste of water.
She and I share a love of Gilmore Girls (Team Luke), her kid, Project Runway, rock climbing, thrift stores, being frugal, Zevia, pretending to enjoy our hobbies (yard work for me, growing plants for her), politics, not cooking, bitching about teenagers, wondering why our allergies are so bad, and playing games.
My dogs adore her.
She’s creative with her classrooms, Halloween costumes, birthday parties and her clothes.
But for some reason, there is no art on her walls.
I think I’ll start there.
Me: Jessica, why don’t you have art on the walls?
A few reasons I guess. I’m lazy, art’s expensive, and Noah and I have opposite tastes when it come to art. Noah likes modern Rothko-esque paintings, while the art historian in me prefers pieces that have a bit more mystery to them. My favorite part about being an art history major was sitting in a museum and dissecting a work of art for every single symbolic detail. I could write pages about what someone in a portrait was wearing and what it meant. Seriously. I think I still have a few saved on my computer.
Me: See? You totally need art. Have you considered indoor plants instead of outdoor plants as a hobby?
Absolutely not. I’m putting all of my focus on keeping my three-year old alive. I cannot take on a plant as well.
Me: I know you don’t really have a dream job, but do you have a dream situation?
I feel really blessed to be where I am professionally. I work at a school where I feel like I can make my mark. My principal “gets” me, my team has my back, and I have a lot of great resources at my disposal. Plus, although I work with what many would consider a tough population of students, I love them and they love me. It’s hard. It’s exhausting. But any person in education will tell you, it’s worth it. I can’t see myself doing anything else.
Me: What one or two events have had a memorable impact on your life?
#1: Having a kid. I never knew I could love someone this much. He is my life.
#2: Meeting my person. He tolerates my shit. We laugh a lot. We have these special moments, like we’ll say the same random thing at this same time, and we know we know we’re supposed to be together.
Me: If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
Boring, but I would want to have the power to fly. I freaking hate driving. I want to be able to just go, you know?!
Me: I totally know. I hate driving, too. But I love socks. How do you feel about socks?
Socks rock. Especially long men’s socks that stop just below the knee. I stole all of Noah’s.
Me: Say something nice about yourself.
I think I’m a good mom. Not perfect, but I try. I also think I’m straightforward and honest. I don’t tend to sugarcoat things. What’s the point?
Me: I love you.
