Today I am thankful for 3 a.m. friends.

11.4.19

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3 a.m. friends = the friends you know that you can call in the middle of the night in an emergency and they will, without a doubt, pick up the phone and come to your aid.

I didn't have a 3 a.m. emergency today. But at 5:25 this morning, between snooze alarms, I did text one such friend to confirm our after school happy hour plans.

She texted back immediately. I knew she would.

Today's happy hour was spent with a friend who, over the course of our friendship, has:

• assembled furniture with me

• vacationed with me

• driven me to urgent care when I was sure I had broken my foot

• helped me move apartments, houses and classrooms

• drunk wine and watched the Bachelor with me more times than I can count

• prayed with me and for me

• cleaned the baseboards in my house when I was frantically getting ready for the appraiser to come

• humored me when I drove all the way to her house to have her apply aloe to my not-so-sunburned back

• cheered me on, cried with me, laughed with me, called me out on my #$*&, commiserated with me and celebrated with me -- often all in the same day.

She's seen me at my best and has seen me at my worst, and even when we go months without talking, I know we'll pick up like no time has passed at all. Today, we caught up over martinis and appetizers and then agreed that sharing a slice of chocolate coconut pie was essential.

Thank you, God, for not having had many 3 a.m. emergencies in my life, and for providing me plenty of 3 a.m. friends -- just in case.