I had one thing to do today, just one thing that I needed to do. And I knew about it for years, and I remembered to do it, too. I just forgot one little detail.When I was a wee one, we lived in a garden apartment (are they called that outside of New Jersey?), upstairs. When I was about three, a new family moved into the downstairs apartment, so we shared a front door and a hallway. They had a little baby, six months old. I remember seeing her being pushed around in a baby carriage.
Our mothers became best friends, our families became close, and although she and I are no longer close close, she is my oldest friend, two and half years younger than I am. She lives in Long Island now, and has for many years. We talk once a year or so, maybe not even that much. But when I have a significant birthday, she calls. And my only job is to call back on hers, two and a half years later.
Today is her 50th birthday.
I do not have her phone number.
I have had a note on my desk reminding me to call her for weeks; you'd think I could have emailed her mother before today to make sure I had the right phone number. I knew that she'd moved, but I assumed it was locally. When I called just before, I got the "call cannot be completed as dialed."
I am pissed off at me. I should have checked. I emailed her mother just now, and asked her to convey my birthday wishes and send me her phone number. But I know that on my 50th birthday, I knew that Lori would call and I looked forward to it and she did. And she is expecting me to call and I tried and I want to. And she will be disappointed, as I would have been. So I know how she feels.
Bummer. I hope her mother checks her email sometime this week.
