Monday, September 24, 2012

Make New Friends, But Keep The Old


I did not grow up in the Bay Area.  I actually moved here from the east coast after I graduated college (with a short stay in Atlanta in-between).  That means that there is close to 3000 miles between me and the friends and family that I grew up with.  Luckily, I live in a great vacation area, and from time to time I will get tourists visitors.  

This past weekend, one of my best friends from high school, Monica, was in town.  I hadn't seen her in about 10 years, so I was excited to head into the city for some breakfast and gossip.  That is the stuff friendships are built on.  

I chose the Hollywood Cafe, based solely off of the area of the city is was in and Yelp Reviews.  My experience here was very positive, service was fast, and the food was good.  I would highly recommend this place if you are in the area.  Another Yelp success story!   

The menu was adorable, and I loved that most entrees came with a giant bowl of fresh fruit.  

I had the dolce French toast with grilled bananas and fresh fruit and nuts.  It tasted as good as it looks. 

Monica and my husband both ordered the Clark Gable.  Their reviews were extremely positive.

After breakfast, we took a little walk .  This is a view of Alcatraz from Fisherman's Wharf (Pier 39).

There were lots of sea lions sunning themselves.  Fact:  You can tell the difference between a seal and a seal lion by looking at their ears.  Sea lions have visible ears, and seals appear earless.

Friends for 22 years, and counting.  We actually took about 8 pictures, and my eyes were closed in almost every single one of them.  

There is something special about the friends you make when you are growing up.  It is a kind of magic that is very hard to recreate once you are out in the working world.  Even though Monica and I have been in and out of touch since high school, every time we get back together, it is like no time has passed.  There is never a break in conversation, even for a minute.  It is the kind of friendship that will definitely last a lifetime.

What about you?  Where did you meet your lifelong friends?  Do you find that making friends has changes since you graduated high school/college?

19 comments:

colleen said...

i agree - even though i have many good friends i met later in life, there's something about a friend being around for your formative years that can't be recreated in other friendships.

Mandy Crandell said...

What a cool restaurant! Most of my closest friends are childhood friends. :)

http://mandycrandell.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

I know! Friends made while growing up are the most special lot. I am glad that my best friend is shifting to my city, though my husband rightly suspects that i will be spending half my time with her now!

Love the food pictures. Keep rocking, you two!

www.shotcouture.com
www.breakfastprojekt.blogspot.com

Steph said...

Time catching up with old friends is priceless! Most of my good friends are from my growing-up years. I agree that making friends now is a lot different than it was in high school or college.

rooth said...

It's really wonderful that you guys stay in touch! Making friends definitely changes after high school and college but I've been lucky to pick up a few really solid ones that I've met through work

Katie said...

So fun! There is just nothing like catching up with old friends :)

little luxury list said...

Oh I miss classic American breakfasts (at least the ones with great fruit on the side!) My closest friends are all the way from high school/college but my grad school roommate is also a great friend. I do find that it is harder to find really good friends later in life, but it is a little easier when you move to a place where most people are also expats/transplants.

xoxo,
Chic 'n Cheap Living

Stephanie said...

My best best friend and I met our first day of freshman year in high school. We've been super close ever since and that definitely has not changed. She lives in Korea now, so we don't see each other very often, but when we do it's like we didn't miss a beat. She's like a sister to me. Most of my other close friends came from college with a couple from law school.

This post reminded me of this article I read recently. I think you'd like it - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/fashion/the-challenge-of-making-friends-as-an-adult.html?pagewanted=all

Emmylou said...

Such a sweet story, Erin. I totally agree...meeting friends when you're younger and still unsure of yourself, then growing up together just really creates that special tie between people.
That french toast you got....nomnom!

Mary Ann said...

I've always wanted to travel to San Fran but it hasn't happened yet. How sweet of your friend to visit you! ;-)

Ana said...

Oh Erin! I miss my college friends. They are getting married, having kids, buying houses, getting promotions and I'm not there. It's so hard for me to be an "observant" in their lives, since I mostly keep up with them through Facebook. It's hard to keep friendships when you live so far away from everybody!

Loulou said...

That looks and sounds like it was a very nice breakfast with a long-time friend. I just had lunch with one of mine yesterday, after not seeing her for more than a year (we were both stunned and slightly ashamed by this realization!). And when it was time to say goodbye we both agreed that we weren't done yet! There is always so much to talk about with old friends, right?

xo Loulou

Suz said...

I have friends still that I see since high school and it is as you say. We pick up right where we left off.(And high school was a long time ago).

Nail Dazzler Nails said...

The food looks Delicious. Nice of your friend to visit you :)

Erin said...

You look awesome & so does that food! The fruit looks divine! I need to go make some french toast and add some fruit now! I've missed you!

xx

Erin @ http://www.truffles-ruffles.com/

Morgan said...

That menu is adorable! That's awesome that they give you so much fresh fruit with your meal. What a cool restaurant!

Alyze said...

I see I am living the opposite life of you lol...grew up in the Bay Area, now living on the east coast. I miss home so much!!! I definitely made my best, lifelong friends while I was in college. I think I was just a shy, chubby girl in high school and never really felt like I fit in and really came into my own when I moved to the city and made some new, true blue friends.

honey my heart said...

it's always great to get together with good friends over an amazing meal :)

Martina // Spunkyrella said...

Oh, right now I´d fancy a Vivian Leigh ;)

Really nice post and mouthwatering pics. I had to laugh about the eyes-closed-comment. It´s the exact same thing over here, girl ;))

xo

I'm Erin

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Hi, I'm Erin. I am living back on the east coast after 15 years out west. Currently readjusting to humidity and mosquitos. I love to take pictures and read fashion magazines.... and to talk about nothing in particular (ok, and my dogs).

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