If she meets someone at a park–instant friends. If she asks the girl her name–best friends.

If only life were as easy as swinging next to someone at the park and realizing you have the same pair of Payless running shoes–a bond that will last much longer than the glue holding the cheap soles together.

There’s no sadness when they leave, just thanks for climbing the rock wall with me, hope to see you again.

With Ellie’s sixth birthday in February, I must say her guest list and dream party is becoming rather extensive. Some days, she wants the party at a pool, others at the ski hill (despite the fact she‘s never skied), sometimes it’s at the skating rink, the indoor water park, bowling alley or here at the house.

Her guest list includes;

1. Her best friends from school.

2. Cousins.

3. The girl she was in swimming lessons with, three years ago in Sea Turtle. This one is tricky as we have no idea what this girl’s name is and we no longer swim at the same pool.

4. The girl in Florida who watched Ellie win a cheap stuffed animal from a distance. While there were no words exchanged, the girl looked at Ellie in amazement and Ellie felt an instant connection. This one might come to fruition given one of Ellie’s ideas for her party location is Disney World.

5. The lady who used to run the program at the community centre.

6. The girl who doesn’t speak while cutting her hair.

7. Her music teacher.

8. The girl who gave her a balloon at the grocery store that read, “Sale” in reverse red on white lettering.

9. The kid who counted how many times she climbed across the monkey bars at the park one time this summer….not the girl who counted but then wouldn’t let her go down the slide, the one who counted and then watched baseball.

10. Neighbors with kids.

11. Neighbors without kids.

12. The lady on the airplane who served everyone milk and cookies.