pink as a baby's bottom

as this blog's readers might know, ann went to college with dear ashbloem. they were in the same wide circle of friends, but they weren't quite likethis. dabney had met her once or twice, but they had never really spent any time together. but once ashbloem moved back to boston (following stints in texas and amsterdam), and following a painful breakup from the guy she moved here with, she began spending lots of time chez superette.

let's admit it- in those first few months, ashbloem was a bit of a gaping wound. she oozed hurt. she probably didn't expect to be here, but there it was. like a newly re-single person, ashbloem dealt with it by getting on with it, mostly by always doing something, wanting to go out with people, and never being alone in her apartment. she and ann took up knitting. fantastically, she quit smoking. she came over, a lot.

at first, dabney was a little cautious about this new, constant presence. she has been known to invite people into her life ever so s l o w l y. but the sweeter part of her nature prevailed (she hates seeing people in pain) and she wound up happily cooking lots of dinners for three. in time, as it always does, conversation stopped bordering on the ex and moved onto everything else. dabney discovered and now loves ashbloem's hilarity, energy, honesty, her ability to live out loud, her work-to-live mentality, and her search for experience.

ann and dabney love that all of their lives and friends and families have become more intertwined. they split a farm share last summer. ashbloem cooked the turkey over thanksgiving. she now regularly IMs with a friend of dabney's from college. and with ashlee came all these other wonderful people, like carrrrmen, interravision, josh, the school of hits, syborg, and the maggot into ann and dabney's circle.

just recently, ashbloem found a new guy - a new live-in man - with whom to cook dinner (corn chowder the other night, they hear) which means that ann and dabney will have to re-navigate their day to day with her. a bit strange for them, yes, but they suppose it was probably time. ann and dabney feel really lucky to have been with ashbloem for this blip in her life, to have caught her in between cities and in between partners, and to have had her almost all to themselves for so long. it might have begun by ann and dabney out to soothe her, but they definitely feel like they got the better end of the bargain. and they are so happy that ashbloem's hurt is healing and has been for some time. no sir, no necratising facheitis here.

so, to ashbloem, on her birthday. here's to new skin.