ever remember, always remember

you know how sometimes you find yourself in a moment and you think to yourself, "remember this moment"?  well, let me tell you about a few i had when six of my friends/college roommates and i reunited for our much-anticipated california trip...

1.  imagine us, a minivan full of thirty-something-year-olds (except for andi, who was just five days shy of the big 3-0), winding through highway 17 en route from santa cruz to san francisco, eating ice cream cones and singing at the top of our lungs in exact unison to dashboard's "hands down" and jason mraz's "you and i both".  there we were... a mother of four, three mothers of two (one newly widowed), a school teacher, a blogger extraordinaire, and one of us halfway-there pregnant, and for a moment it was as if we were back in the shanty, carefree and extremely silly. the whole weekend was carefree and silly, but this moment was such concentrated silliness and joy, it was heart-bursting.

2.   in carmel is the most charming restaurant in the world, casanova.  it is the kind of restaurant that no picture can give justice.  it is impossible to capture the charm and ambiance of such a place.  we had a small room all to ourselves and a fun waiter who (i'm sure) thought we were annoying so funny.  a fire was burning in the rustic fireplace and it was easy to feel at home.  we had the "best meal in all of the land" (quote by lara) in the most romantic restaurant in carmel.  we left reluctantly, but with the memories of the gnocchi and cheese platter that will forever be a part of that perfect moment.

3.  there is a creek in big sur behind the river inn where there are big wooden chairs right in the water.  you can sit in the shady sunlight, with your feet in the cool water, and literally fall asleep (lara.)  it was perfectly amazing and we sat as long as we could, no one wanting to make the first move to leave.  

the entire trip with these girls was a highlight.  it was loud and sweet and food-filled and silly.  i know that i am who i am because of these girls.  they shaped me and have had a huge part in my life's course.  i love them all.