a girl named Kourtni

I have some exciting news to share!  No, I am not pregnant.  Just going ahead and putting that out there for those of "yous" with high hopes.  My news is that my old college roomie, Kourtni, has finally started blogging.

The news of this random girl named Kourtni starting a blog may not be quite the excitement to some of you.  But it will.  Just give time.

Reading Kourtni's blog takes me back to 2002 when we first met.  Wow, that is nearly 10 years ago.  Holy time for botox!  And holy eye opener.  I just realized I am one of "those people" that still talks about college like it was yesterday.  You know the type, "Oh I did that in college" or "Oh yeah I remember learning that in college".  I need to get some new, more honest friends.  Some of you aren't cutting it and should have pointed out that I have Letter Jacket Syndrome.  Note taken!

Anyways, I guess I can have one more time to bask in that glory.  I can remember the first time I met this Kourtni character.  We were all excited about the new girl moving onto our floor.  I heard from some girls that she was "soo pretty", so I was a bit jealous of that and a bit jealous that she was moving into the room with my best friend on the hall, Holly P.  Kourtni and Holly couldn't have been more of polar opposites, but they were exactly what each other needed.  Kourtni need a touch of refinement & Holly needed someone to not baby her and give her her way.  And I needed them both.

I remember my first impression of Kourtni.  She came off the elevator wearing a red spaghetti strap tank top and black sofee shorts.  But what I remember most was not her beauty but these horrendous bun pigtails situated at the top of each side of her head.  Kourtni entered our lives with 3 cute guys moving her stuff while she only held onto her old blankey that she wouldn't take away from her nose.  "How does this girl get those guys with that awful hairdo?" was my first thought that will stick with me forever.

The pigtail buns were not my only first impression.  I was so excited to meet her and introduce her to Thursday nights at Banana Joe's and teach her how to use a fake ID that I couldn't contain it and attacked her with an introduction before she could even settle into her new room.  My second impression?  What a b-word to the nth degree!!  Coming from a small town I have never encountered people to just completely blow you off.  Kourtni did just that and never thought twice about it.

Third impression?  I am so blessed that this girl has entered my life.  She was the first person to tell me that it was ok to cry and talk about your emotions.  I was for the first time telling people not from my circle about my parents separation.  Freshman year is such an awkward time for young people (hear that?  I'm getting better with my letter jacket syndrome).  To say it out loud and try to explain it to someone was so hard for me.  I used to have walls stronger than Fort Knox guarding me and my emotions.  I started to crack.  As I went to stop myself and excuse myself from the room (thinking I had made a mistake and burdened these people with my nonsense), Kourtni looked at me and calmly said, "Jean, its ok to get upset.  You really need to learn to talk about things."  Mind you, this was only like the 2nd week I knew this girl and wasn't quite sold on her - in my then opinion she was lucky to be in the company of Holly and me.  Boy was I foolish.

As time passed (which included several fights, a trip to jail, lots of laughs, boyfriends and break ups) I knew Kourtni was someone that would always have a positive impact in my laugh.  Never have I ever encountered another human being quite like her.  She will always be one of my best friends, whether we talk once a year or once every 2 years.  Kourtni is the yen to my yang and its a shame we can't live closer. But this whole social media thing is making it much easier to interact with one another.

What I wanted to let everyone know is that you should take a visit to Kourtni's blog, Confused on Cloud 9.  She is just getting started, so make sure to keep checking back. You will find that she has some of the funniest, yet factual, outlooks on things most would never notice.  She has a unique perspective on the most minute facts of life that will have you laughing and thinking.

P.S. Sorry for my M.I.A-ness.  Again.  Ya'll are the best and I'm glad you always come back for more!
P.S.S. (Remember those on your notes you passed to friends in the classroom?)  I'm not proof reading again because it is late.