Friends

This is my friend, Gabrielle. We are both summer clerks at the Southern Environmental Law Center. Her classmates at the University of Michigan Law School  call her "the tree girl" because she climbs into trees to study. Gabrielle hand painted geckos on her car. One time she told a group of us that she has a special connection with rabbits.

I took this picture last night while a group of us were on top of the Water Street parking garage. We were encouraged to join a group on the top floor of the garage so we could do some howling. Yes, howling. So we howled. It was fun. I woke up in the middle of the night trying to figure out why my throat was sore. Howling.

I spent my birthday alone. But I didn't, because Gabrielle made me a cake. And she delivered the cake to me along with an orchid that she and the other summer clerks - Drew, Mallory, and Tessa - bought for me. They know I aspire to be good at houseplants. Gabrielle sang me "Happy Birthday" and made me blow out the candles. It was a really wonderful surprise from a surprisingly good friend.

I've made a couple surprising friends in the last year. I have a great friend in school, Rachel, who is, like Gabrielle, literally half my age. Last fall Rachel asked me to be her partner in a couple competitions at the law school. I was flabbergasted and flattered. We did well. Near the end of the semester Rachel listened to me blame myself for what was happening at home. And she helped me develop a really great plan for giving anniversary gifts to the girls' mother. I remember telling her that there was a real possibility that it was my final wedding anniversary.

Gabrielle and Rachel are smart and funny and wise beyond their years. They each helped me navigate the last year. I am very thankful for their friendship and for the friendship and support of everyone who has been here for me.

Gabrielle literally had to run after we finished our howling session because she was taking a red-eye to Detroit in order to interview for a federal clerkship today. 

Yes, she's wearing a dress. And yes, she is running down the ramp rather than going to a stairwell. She's awesome.