Two things happened today that reminded me of how thankful I am for my friend Laura: we opened a ridiculously delicious jar of cherry preserves, loving carried all the way to Nantucket from Adam’s, and I finally got a chance to go through the pictures on my computer, where I found this adorable one
of Nora and her “aunt” Laura.
You may remember from Laura’s visit last fall, that she and I worked together at Marist College. Sort of like pledges bonding through hazing, we became good friends while negotiating the crazy place and people of Marist’s Graduate & Adult Enrollment Office. When I moved on to Bard (after applying for the job with her encouragement and advice — thank you, Laura), we stayed friends and Laura is one of the people I miss most about the Hudson Valley.
I’m so thankful that she was able to come out and visit again for a couple of days last week. We talked and talked and talked — until well after midnight — both nights she was here, which was one of the reasons I was so bad about blogging last week. We were trying to cram as much conversation as possible into 48 hours!
I am incredibly thankful to have Laura in my life. She is a smart, amazing, and funny woman. She is also very courageous, not afraid to take chances with her life, a quality which I admire very much. In the next few months, you’ll get to hear more about it, but she is about to make a big change I don’t think many people would be brave enough to do. (And I have to tease you by not giving details just yet, sorry!)
Not only is she all of those wonderful things, but Nora was instantly smitten with her:
“cooking” Laura lots and lots of food, asking Laura to read to her, put her shoes on, and basically refusing to spend anytime with me or Chris in favor of her new best friend. 
She pretty much attached herself to Laura from sun up to sun down.
Nora even decided to call Laura “Aunt Laura” all on her own, which was so sweet. If instant toddler love is not an indicator of someone’s awesomeness, then I don’t know what is.
And I think Laura was pretty taken with Nora, herself
(at least if all the goofy pictures I found of Laura and Nora dancing together at Music & Movement are an indicator).
So today, I am most thankful for my friend, LZ. I am also thankful for all the things she carted over from the mainland, including several pounds of apples that are about to become apple butter. Thanks, Laura, I love you!
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