Drew and I moved to Seattle almost exactly four years ago. I was bummed when we got here because my cousin Michael was going to have a houseguest for three weeks, some English teacher from Germany named Barbara, and who knew what kind of damper she was going to be on all of our “welcome to Seattle” fun.
Then I met her.
Barbara at B&O Espresso, October 2008
Now she is one of my dearest friends.
Barbara comes to Seattle every other year with the German exchange program that Michael’s school is part of. On the off years, Michael and another German teacher take a group of American kids to Hamburg. The last time she came over with the program was when Nathaniel was about a month old. It was pretty different from the time before when we were laughing hysterically in a wine bar while doing our own imitations of Isaac from The Love Boat.
This time there were meltdowns in the Elliott Bay Book Company bathroom because I couldn’t get Nathaniel in the freaking Moby Wrap. But we still had a great time doing our favorite things together – eating cupcakes and drinking coffee, visiting the local boutiques, walking around the Ballard Farmers Market, and, mostly, talking.
Barbara and Melanie, Kerry Park in Seattle, September 2010
Even though we hadn’t seen or really talked to each other for two years, we immediately fell into that comfortable rhythm of familiarity – that too rare friendship where you feel like you’ve known each other forever and no matter how often you see or speak to each other, when you finally do, it feels just like you had breakfast together the day before. Our conversations run the gamut, from what it’s like to lose someone you love to making up funny stories about Michael Kors.
In the summer of 2011, Barbara came to visit just for fun, separate from the exchange. We got to meet her boyfriend, Felix, and we loved him too. Nathaniel was nearly a year old, I was properly medicated, and we had an awesome time together.
The return of the “double Isaac” (copyright pending) 2011
Barbara and Nathaniel, July 2011 – Photo Credit: Phil Scroggs, www.phillustrations.com
Felix likes my heart-shaped sunglasses. 2011
Barbara and Felix, Seattle Center, July 2011
Now Barbara is back again for the German exchange program. We’ve spent the past three weeks visiting some of our old favorite spots, checking out some new ones, having great conversations, and laughing hysterically.
Nathaniel loves Barbara.
Barbara and Nathaniel, September 2012
Michael and Barbara, Seattle Design Festival 2012
Elliott Bay Book Company
Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery
Barbara and I love diving girl images.
Barbara and I love skull latte art from Fremont Coffee Company.
We took her to Revel in Fremont.
We walked over to the Fremont Sunday Market.
She taught Nathaniel how to say “moon” in German.
Neon tape street art in Capitol Hill.
Cupcakes, coffee, and cool photography at Cupcake Royale in Capitol Hill
And now we’ve reached that part of the visit that completely sucks. it’s time to say goodbye. She’s going back to Germany tomorrow and most likely won’t be back in Seattle until 2014. But look this goal on my life list. And I’m going to Camp Mighty next month. Maybe I’ll be so Mighty in 2013 that we’ll be able to travel to Germany. Maybe next year Barbara and I will be choosing our favorite spots, having great conversations, and laughing hysterically in Hamburg.
I am going to miss you so much, sweet friend. xoxo
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t3cBTb3xPc&w=640&h=360]
Note to self: Watch Bye Bye Birdie.