About 23 years ago, my parents got the brilliant idea that we should move to the SUBURBS. The only things I knew about the suburbs were from reading Judy Blume novels and didn't know if I had it in my to walk around chanting "we must we must increase our bust" or peek at my neighbours with binoculars however I didn't have a choice. I knew I didn't have a choice when I called the Children's Aid Society to report the potential for child abuse and a very irritated man with a thick British accent scolded me and told me that real abuse was happening in homes around the city. Dude, I was 13 and being moved to a town with one mall that should have landed me a celebrity studded telethon or at least a charity run in my opinion. Back to the point of this post, we moved to the suburbs and I felt like I was on a whole other planet. First day of school came and passed, hated it and cried all the way home telling my Mom how horrible she was and that I wasn't going back to that school where people "still pinned their jeans"-lost that battle and had to go back to the school with no walls. Second day, this very bubbly girl came up to me and said "You're new here right, and from Toronto" and in my best sullen I hate life and everything about it voice I answered "yeah and now I live here" to which the bubbly girl responded "OMG, I love Toronto do you speak valley can you speak valley to me?" I clearly remember thinking what the hell is happening to my life and doesn't this girl know that the valley is in California then in the next millisecond thinking to myself this girl isn't like everyone else here and I think we could be friends. This bubbly girl has a name and it is Fiona, did we become the bestest of friends and challenge each other to see who could have the highest Montclair bang pouf ever, no (not bffs however we were friends) and thank God no.
We crossed paths almost daily between Grade 8 and the end of high school, some of the same friends and she worked at the same grocery store as my high school boyfriend then we lost contact. I did my thing and she did her thing. I did manage to maintain friendships with a lot of my middle and high school friends but always wondered about Fiona and what she was doing with herself. I always knew it would be amazing whatever it was, there was always something about her that knew one day she would shine. One day my BFF (am I twelve??) sent me an invite to this thing called Facebook and I joined (apparently I am 12 afterall) and I started reconnecting with all sorts of people from my past and one of them was Fiona.
We caught up and started chatting and instantly I was a wee bit jealous, she was leading an amazing life and one that I had wanted for myself at one time. Around the time we started chatting again, she started blogging and I think I developed a straight girl crush on her. Holy shit!!! I knew it, there was something awesome-that chick has mad talent and can write like nobodies business. I would love for anyone who is reading my blog to head over and check out her amazing blog
And to you Miss Fiona, like ohmigod you totally rock and are totally awesomely fabulous already
ok, you just brought tears to my eyes Char!!! I rememeber asking you about the Valley...I was really into Sweet Valley High and I was convinced that anyone from a big city must have spoken that way and I was intrigued (hence why I live in TO now)....You are so sweet and um a pretty fantabulous writer yourself! I am so glad we reconnected too and I can't wait to read more of your blog hence why you receive the occasional harrassment text and email begging you, pleading you for your next post! Love you and thanks so much for the lovely words!! :) xoxoxo
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