hundreds of dollars of cheese

Last weekend I traveled up north to stay with Jalayne and Justin. My extended family. My 20 years and counting best friend. They are about to have their first baby. In our relationship, I have always been the pregnant one, the breastfeeding one, the one strapped to a child (four of them) one. The tables have turned. Now I am the one with more freedom and older kids, and her life is about to change forever. Her belly is gorgeous. I am home in her home. Our weekend was filled with shopping in the city, lots of bread and hundreds of dollars of cheese, going through old notes and photos, walks with the dogs, and lots of talking. (Thank you Justin for the photo of us, above. I had just ingested a $20 burger and a Long Island iced tea. I was HAPPY.)

Juicy belly. Shopping in the Marina.

Showing Justin the clothes we picked out for baby Jax.

A note she found from me, dated 7.20.92. It is hard to believe, but so much of who I am today came through in this note. Made me cry thinking of how much we have been through together, as we grew up and our life views shifted. Even when our life views were COMPLETELY opposite for a period of time, we remained connected.

Photos from my junior year of high school that gave me quite the laugh.

And a shot we took to celebrate the impending arrival of baby Jax.

Until next time, dear friends, dear city.

xo

Tara

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43 Comments

  1. Oh, hon….just LOOK at these!! I was thinking of you the whole time – especially with Sunday’s sunshine – I loved knowing you were wandering around here with your best friend and couldn’t wait to see SF thru your lens! Looks like you did it up just right :)

    p.s. you are kiling me with that last shot, my dear. YOW.

  2. HOw awesome to have a friend like that Tara!
    You are so luckY! I also have “old” friends, ones
    that date all the way back to kindy!
    And by the way, can I just mention how FABULOUS you look?! YOu just look BEAUTIFUL! I mean, you always have, but I can totally see how transformed you are! LOVELY!
    tara pp

  3. My husband is sitting next to me on his computer and I just said outloud “man, she’s a genius” and he said “who?” “Tara, everything she touches turns to gold, wow.” :) SF is one of my favorite cities, thank for the glimpse and that last picture is show.stopping. Thanks for my dose of inspiration today. :)

  4. Beautiful picture of you and your bf Tara! You look great and the mama-to-be is glowing. :) You both have such joy on your faces. Your pics told a wonderful story of your weekend…and a friendship to treasure. :)

  5. Sounds like you girls had a great time. Aren’t old friends the best? Hundreds of dollars on cheese…are you serious…I’m cracking up over here! I absolutely love that shot of your Jaylane and Justin….fabulous as always my dear!

  6. Pictures are wonderful!!How I love to see you two together….Two beautiful young women who will remain sixteen in my eyes forever. Both wise beyond your years then,your friendship ripened by time has come full circle. The weight of the world seems lifted now.Jalayne I love seeing you so happy.Hope someday to sneak in Tara’s camera bag when she comes to visit! Can’t wait to meet Justin and Jax and hug your Mom!!It’s been too long….

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