Member-only story
The Cosmic Pause:
An auspicious time for reflection and reconnection
Every October, I visit my grandma, delighting in the fact that I get to see my hometown-the Halloween capital of the world, beaming at its best, just like the lively early days of Halloweentown. We usually go out for brunch, but this time we changed it up and went to lunch at Applebee’s. I was on my best behavior and ordered a salad, while my grandma ordered her usual burger with extra grease and fries that she insisted I help myself to.
In the middle of my meal, I looked up. Normally, with my ADHD, I’m fiercely hyper-focused, but I suddenly noticed that sitting behind my grandma two booths down, was Jessica, my former best friend from high school.
“I can’t believe it, Grandma,” I whispered in a startled gasp. “She’s right behind you — it’s my ex-best friend from high school!”
Suddenly all those old memories came flooding back. We even went trick-or-treating together when we were 18, desperately trying to stretch our youth out just a little longer. She was my shorty afterall. She dressed as a pimp with a leather jacket and all, and I went as a desperate housewife with a frilly apron on and curlers askew in my hair. My grandma still has the picture of us somewhere.
