We met sixteen years ago. That sort of thing happens when you move to a new town and your new next door neighbor happens to be your age. (Fifteen hours apart to be exact.) Lisa and I became best friends almost instantly. She helped make the years I spent in elementary school exciting. She moved with her family to France for a few years and when she returned in time for high school it was as if nothing had changed. I was glad to have her around for driver’s licenses and graduations. After high school life took us in different directions but we could always count on January to roll around for the annual “Happy Birthday” phone calls or emails.
Years and years later, hundreds of miles apart, our two roads came together again. During some time in Miami while Lisa was modeling she met a man named Andrew. They have since moved to Costa Rica and run a, as she puts it, “magical” hotel in Mal Pais. She made it sound like a paradise away from reality and I can hardly wait to visit them there some day. But the biggest news isn’t their fabulous home in the mountains where the heavens open up and offer a light show of twinkling stars each night. Their most valuable treasure is their new baby girl, Alexis.
This little girl has taken her parents hearts captive. Mine too. She’s adorable in pink. The smile she makes at her mommy takes up her whole face. She’s alert and wiggly. She’s precious and soft. Lisa told me in an email before I saw them yesterday that she couldn’t imagine life without this little one. It was so genuine to see Lisa’s love overflows in an endless wave of mercy and affection for her new daughter. And the new daddy is equally delighted to be a part of this life. He drops everything to tend to and serve his girl, everything that is except the feeding.
The Racers love hearing from home and the opportunities to see friendly faces. The people closest to us naturally rub off and make us who we are. Lisa’s one of those for me. She reminded me how we are sisters making me an aunt to the beautiful little Alexis. She remembered that we had signed a contract in blood when we were little to stay friends forever. I guess it worked. She went on, “Remember when we made those videos where you painted the face on your chin and talked…and when my legs were your legs…” Becky was with us, “Caitlin, there’s so much I don’t know about you.” Join the club, it takes time. But thanks for doing it. Thanks for the sixteen years, Lisa. I love you and hope to see you three again soon!
