Tricia:  Thursday is universally recognized as Lindsay/Tricia Day, and since this is the last Thursday we can spend together in person for a whole year, we spent today at Panera eating, talking, and blogging!

Lindsay: Initially we planned to start this whole blog today! Like the first Thursday before Tricia leaves, but we both got WAY too excited and had to start earlier.  I mean we HAD to.

Tricia:  As fun as it has been to write to each other while living in the same city, I’m really excited about this new phase of Letters Between Friends.  I am always desperate for attention, and I am super excited about knowing that every two weeks, Lindsay HAS to write to me.  It’s a guaranteed way to avoid at least a little bit of loneliness.

Lindsay: And I can’t wait for her to go!  Now Lindsay….that’s a little rude. But we all know I live vicariously through Tricia and I need some adventure even if it’s vicarious.  I’m also super thrilled to see God do crazy things in the lives of people I love, so you know I’m sad but happy to see you go.

Tricia:  I wish I could shrink you and put you in my suitcase!  I’m glad you’re going to keep me accountable, because now I’ll think, “Is my life exciting enough for Lindsay?  No??  I better go jump off a cliff (into water).”  Just kidding, I’ll never do that, that sounds terrifying.

Lindsay: Funny you’re not the first person to say that!  AND if there is a cliff {with water underneath} I’m jumping and taking you with me.

As you can all see we are ready for new adventures in both Peoria and Athens. One of the best parts of our friendship is how we can go our own ways for a while, keep each other encouraged, and then come back together no matter what’s happened.  (Lindsay: And I get to visit you someplace CRAZY!  Tricia:  You’d better.)

So here’s to the next phase of LBF (that means Letters Between Friends).  May you all enjoy our victories and sadnesses, our new crushes and annoying people, our adventures and our couches.  Because honestly we are not even doing this for you… We just hope you are entertained.  (Lindsay: we mean that in the nicest way possible. Tricia: Yea. Tricia: THAT WAS YOU LINDSAY STOP SPEAKING FOR ME….but yeah.)

Happy Thursday!

Love,

Tricia & Lindsay

Last week Lindsay answered some hilarious questions in her letter to me.  This week I complained and celebrated in my letter to her!  Check it out on her blog, Wild Ginger.

 

Last week I asked Lindsay some weird questions (stolen from Grace Helbig’s podcast Not Too Deep), and this week she answered them!  AFTER she emotionally toyed with me by almost committing to skipping work and hanging out in Chicago with me for a day, but I’ll forgive that because her answers are hilarious.   Continue reading →

Last week Lindsay asked me some questions, and I commented my answers.  This week I asked her some…weirder questions!  Check it out on her blog, Wild Ginger!

Dear Tricia,

I am stuck today.  I haven’t a clue what to write about.  We both have been traveling…you come home ready to embark on your final month here at home before a HUGE transition, and I come home to sick children.

Oooo…Here’s something.  I was wondering if you deal with this much with the amount of travel you’ve done…When we were at the resort last week, I was struggling with the workers.  They were so kind and accommodating and great, but because of the trip I took to Guatemala earlier this year, I had a general idea of what they went home to.  I think I felt slightly ashamed or arrogant.  Nathan assured me that they had a great job and were doing what they need to do to provide for their families.  But I still couldn’t help it.

There was this one waiter, Antonio.  On Saturday, he served us all breakfast.  He would always welcome us with, “Hello Family!”  That night, Ashley, Daniel, Nathan and I were playing cards outside of the coffee shop around 10pm and he was picking up the garbage for the night.  I’m positive the labor laws are incredibly different, but I felt so torn.  Glad that I can help his family income, but by being at the resort was I endorsing improper treatment?

UGH.  The struggle.  Seattle, I’m sure, was slightly different.

Oh AND…I know LOTS about you…but I also need to know the answers to these questions…

1. When is appropriate to start celebrating Christmas?
2. If you had to pick an era to live in, which would it be?
3. What TV series would you want to be a character in?
4. What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

Happy Almost Friday, Friend.  Hope your week was more structured both in plan & thought than mine.

Love,

Lindsay

I got Lindsay into Scandal, and it has taken over both our mental states.  So today I wrote her a letter about all the ways we should imitate Olivia Pope…and a couple ways we shouldn’t.

Check it out on Lindsay’s blog, Wild Ginger!

 

Hah, this letter from Lindsay is a perfect lead-in to my post going up tomorrow about how I recently realized I’m a Type 4 instead of a Type 9 in the Enneagram personality test.  Tomorrow the post will be largely a freak out, but Lindsay’s letter today makes me feel a lot better about being a 4!  Especially if it means Lindsay and my personality types go together so well!

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Dear Tricia,

We’ve been talking sooo much about personality tests lately, so I feel I should write you about that.  [Notice I write “feel” which means I’m an emotional person].

In the Enneagram Test:

• I am a #2 The Helper: Caring, Interpersonal Type: Generous, Demonstrative, People-pleasing and Possessive

o   “When moving in their Direction of Integration (growth), prideful, self-deceptive twos become more self-nurturing and emotionally aware, like healthy Fours.”  YOU’RE A FOUR!  Ha!

• You are a #4 The Individualist: The Sensitive, Introspective type: Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental

I looked at what #2 & #4 bring to a relationship…yes, I think they were more directing info at a dating relationship, but they had AWESOME things to say:

“Enneagram Twos and Fours can be a safe place for each to share their hopes, fears, and insecurities. They can be good medicine for each other: Twos contribute sociability and energy, giving Fours the confidence to interact more easily with others.“

“Fours also bring emotional depth and sensitivity to their relationships, a sense of mystery and unpredictability, sensuality and sexual freedom. In short, Fours invite Twos to take a closer look at their deeper needs, the truth of who they are and what they actually feel.”

We go together like Peas & Carrots!

You should totally read more.  I was laughing at how we DON’T mix.  I was also realizing…do you think that the creator of the Divergent series read these, and FOUR/Tobias had a deeper meaning…it was kind of weird! Things that make you go….Hmmm…

I’m sorry I don’t have much to write you.  I’ve been with you this whole week AND I’m planning your party, so to have an expository or narrative thought is slightly difficult at the time.

See you this weekend!  For your PARTY!

Love,

Lindsay

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Check out Lindsay’s blog Wild Ginger for more of her personality and passions!

I wrote to Lindsay over on her blog about my life as a blanket burrito.  Check it out by clicking HERE.

Last week Lindsay wrote to me about her epiphany that there is beauty in anticipation.

This week I wrote to her about the beauty of endings.  Check out my letter on her blog!