Friends. Do we Hug?

I've been trying to take more pictures with my friends when we get together... which is almost never because I'm a home-body... and I'm just too tired. (Sound like an exceptional friend, right? :)
 But alas, pictures are my goal.
Since we moved from Illinois I've been sad that I didn't take any pictures with my friends, who were really my family - and made Illinois heaven on earth.
I am surrounded by wonderfully, loving people, and I don't want to forget their faces... so here's my short, short list of friend photos thus far.

Maggie, Me, Kelsey
Maggie helped me train for my 10K before she moved to UT.. :( miss you. And Kelsey  is just the most laid back person you could ever meet... love her.
 

Oh friends from high school and early adulthood... some memories we laugh about, some we'd like to forget :) but mostly we just have fun together.

This is Rami... who will shoot me for using this picture.  Pals for A LONG time and she was my first roommate.
Hilarious person my friends, hilarious.

April made these beautiful cupcakes for us to enjoy. She's the type of friend who will drop anything for you.
Great kid.

My Dear Alyssa - what a fabulous gal. We were roommates together when we were in "single mom" status.
Couldn't have gotten through it without ya!

 

So, there's my picture list. Adore those ladies!

When I see them I hug them with joy but typically...

I am not a hugger.

Are you?

Unless you're family... it takes me a loonnggg time to get hug comfortable.

Has somebody come up to you, you've only met a few times and grabbed you in an embrace?

My thought at that precise moment,

... and we're hugging.

We've got ourselves a hugger.

About a year and a half ago I was called to work with the young women in our ward and a little while later attended a church barbecue.

One of the girls who I think I had met once ran up to me, threw her arms around my body and said she was so glad to see me.

I was seriously thinking that she thought I was someone else. I didn't even know her... and although I love her and think she's grand now... I had no idea how to respond at that moment. I think I tried to exaggerate my response in a loud, "good to see you too". But in my brain I was doing my best to try and recall what her name was.

I have an amazing friend named Maria who I've known now for probably eight years and when we see each other - we hug.

The first time we met was on her first day of work at the credit union I was employed at. After about a week she would greet me in these huge hugs of glee....

I couldn't handle it. I definitely have a bubble and I don't really want you to touch me.. at all.

I finally got the courage to say the tackiest thing that possibly has ever been released from my mouth,
"Maria,  I don't really like to hug people. Really not a hugger in the least. So Sorry."

Our friendship bloomed during the years we worked together and when it became a natural thing for us to hug she would always ask in advance. Poor girl.

I finally said - Maria, we're good now. You don't have to ask to hug me anymore :).

Am I such a dork or what?! Seriously!

One day Maggie (my running buddy) and I had a conversation how we're not huggers and I told her all of my ridiculous stories. When it came time for her to move I went to hug her goodbye and then I thought... maybe she's NEVER a hugger type of person, even when one is moving away. (do you love the retardation which is me?)

So what did I do... I asked. :)

I said something like - so I know we're not huggers but I'm going to hug you because you're moving to a different state. Good great?!

I'm a little ridiculous.

I have a list in my mind of hugger people and non-hugger people.

It could be a Seinfeld episode.

But, I want you to know, I am so thankful for my friends.. the ones who hug and the ones who don't.