As I’ve mentioned in an earlier post, Julie Polzer and I cemented our friendship in College Station, Texas. She and her husband moved to Minnesota after school, for him to complete his doctorate, while I settled in the DC region. We visited back and forth, and one very fortuitous time, Julie and Brian visited Kathleen and I when Brian happened to have an interview in DC (our visit had been planned for months, the interview for a week).

After a STUNNINGLY short interview (Julie and I barely made it through the fruit section of Whole Foods when he called), Brian got the job, and my dream came true: Julie settled in DC, right near me.

We have had dinners together, with Brian and my partners, every month for more than a decade. We love the same food, celebrate the same things, and enjoy each other’s company immensely. Years ago, in 2008, Julie and Brian had beloved, adorable Lillian just barely two weeks before our Oliver debuted.

Me and Lillian, Oliver and dear Julie, when both beloved babies were very young.

We made them bolognese, and brought it over the night they returned from the hospital. They were so tired! We found them a little whiny, actually. I mean, one baby! How hard could it be?! Less than two weeks later, it was Julie and Brian telling us we could do it, as Jason and I brought Oliver home from the hospital whining: How can we do this?!

They had Thea just a year after we had Allyson, and, now, as we find ourselves suddenly separated by a continent, they have wee Neal, their-long awaited and much adored third baby.

I haven’t written about all that I have to thank Julie for much before now, because that thought of Neil born and rolling over and growing without me ever meeting him, or seeing Julie’s dear, beautiful face as she talks about her three babies, is one of the very hardest things about living so very, very far away.

Dear Julie. From Thanksgiving stuffing to veggie burgers, from Lucky jeans to NPMA, I have so much of the joy of the last several decades of my life to thank you for. Thank you for joy. Thank you for love. Thank you for kindness. I can’t (literally can. not.) wait to meet Neal, and to see you again. The world is a small place as long as we are both in it. I will see you soon.

Thank you. For everything. My dear sister.