Metal Meredith

My friend Kym and I have been friends since 1990, when she and her friend Heidi would make the 2 hour journey down I-95 with their favorite local band. I found said ‘local band’ while recovering from my first real break up and loved their goofy hair metal style.

It did not take long for Kym and I to share astronomical phone bills that our parents rallied against. We immediately went to pen and paper. On weekends, one of us would drive to the other’s house, 2 hours away. We would spend a night and then quickly pop home. We stayed friends since, having never lived closer. In fact, Kym moved across the darn country a few years ago. I still haven’t forgiven her. Our once a week meeting, that dwindled down to once every few months, now is once a year.

*Me, Ed from Barenaked Ladies and Kym - Mid 1990s*

Kym called me in April to tell me that she got all knocked up. I had been hoping for quite a while but never really said anything as it seemed to be an internal struggle for both her and her husband as to whether or not they had kids. Of course, I voted for yes because they were so on the fence. If I thought they said no and really meant it, I would have never given it a thought (notice how I don’t bother you...you know who you are!). But, I never got the 100% from her.

This weekend, I went to her baby shower. As strange as it must have been for my old friends and some family to see my pregnant, it was just as strange to see a longtime friend all thick with baby. She wears it well. So well, in fact, that I will fully admit she is having one of those radiant and carefree pregnancies. Both her husband, Don and her seem excited and anxious, a wonderful way for every almost new parent to be.

*Don, the Stud, and Kym, the Round*

I am nervous for her, excited and elated, proud and encouraging. I just wish so badly that I lived down the street and not 8 hours of highway apart from them. I miss my friend.