Upon the anticipation of a visit

My dear, sweet, lovely cousin A is coming Thursday night. When we set up her visit over a month ago, I had no idea that the excitement of a visit would be come so exquisitely painful--can't she get here yet???? I want our Friday facials! And to see Ash at the fair (Deep Fried HoHos, really?)! And to have our shrimp boil! Why does time fly 99% of the time, and then suddenly move at a pace where even slugs are exclaiming, "Sheesh! Speed it up already?"

So, in honor of her visit (and because even my excitement that it is a Glee! night is not helping take the edge off), a list of my favorite A and I moments (in no particular order):

• Singing along together to really twangy country music in the car on the way to Grandma's.
• Watching Jupiter's Darling, Ivanhoe, A Town Like Alice, Summer Magic, or It Started With Eve, among others.
• Reading books while sitting in trees or out loud while road tripping.
• North Beach
• Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup - post surgery
• OVID!!!! with Duckwitz
• Retold Fairy Tales
• Las Vegas (with bull riders & cowboy bars)
• Dancing!
• Los Hermanos & Good Chinese Food
• Sighing over boys
• Chocolate-covered strawberries
• Ordering Flowers
• Squeaky Cheese!
• "Always take backup!"
• Playing with hair
• Trying to decide who is Sense and who is Sensibility.
• "Grandma, sometimes the Lord says, 'No.' "
• Princess Dresses & Crazy Birthdays
• Knowing that if anything is wrong, I can pick up the phone. Even if it is 4 in the morning.

I love you, Mand. We cannot wait for you to come!