This I understand so much. I wish I could have written it to a great friend before she passed away. I thought that pain of that loss would rebalance my work/friend time and yet I find my self in a similar position again — exhausted from the demands of making ends meet and with little time to sip Champagne (sparkling water would do at this stage) with good friends - with or without the lipstick. I will keep trying to be a less shitty friend though :-)!