Anyone out there want this little dotty mug and saucer? (Edited to add: the cup is only about 3.5 inches tall—it’s a mini-mug!) It was in my etsy shop for ages and the listing just expired. It’s actually an espresso mug and saucer but I was thinking of a little girl when I painted it.

I told Brenda a long time ago that if no one bought it, I’d sell it to her for a song, or possibly a latte. Before I do that though, I’m offering it to you all one last time for $18 with free shipping. If you want it, tell me in the comments and I’ll put it back in my Etsy shop as a reserved listing.

Anyone? Anyone? Or does Brenda need to buy me a latte? Update: Celeste is buying it for one of her son’s pals who broke her arm. Thanks, Celeste! It’s in the shop for you.

I’ve been pondering something for a while now. I wonder if I am alone in not really understanding why people like me, why they want me as a friend.

That makes it sound like I have a massive inferiority complex, and I don’t! Ask anyone who knows me—I am self-confident and comfortable in my own skin. I always have been, as far back as I can remember. I think it’s partly stubbornness, and partly that I was just born this way.

I don’t need people telling me how great I am. I know I’m not an awful person. I know I have many flaws—laziness, being too quick to judge, impatience, and the tendency to take the last can of soda from the fridge without putting more cans in to chill—but I also know that I am smart and generous and occasionally funny.

If you happen to not like me, that’s okay. You are not required to like me. I can deal with a little honest dislike, or indifference. I know I am loved by people in my life, and I know I’m a child of God. I don’t need every person I meet to think I’m swell in order to be happy and well-adjusted.

All those things aside, I find myself wondering sometimes…what makes this person want to be my friend? I do have good qualities, sure, but I have plenty of annoying qualities as well. I’m bossy and opinionated and outspoken to a fault, not to mention introverted enough that I prefer to be a friend from afar and have the tendency to politely avoid social engagements. Whee, don’t I sound like fun?

Given all of that, what on earth do people see in me that appeals to them!?

I suppose the mystery of friendship is that the answers would probably be different for each person. What Erin likes best about me may very well be the thing that drives Joe crazy. Yet they both like me and consider me a friend. The mystery is compounded by the fact that I’m the total opposite of many of my friends in major ways, and yet we still respect and like each other, value each other’s opinions, and have a blast when we hang out.

I guess it’s not surprising I think about friendship in this way. I’ve been described as “very logical” more than once, by more than one person. Sometimes I feel like Spock, a logical being surrounded by strangely emotional creatures, struggling to understand them and my own emotions as well. From an intellectual standpoint I can see why certain people would find my friendship helpful or valuable or enjoyable. Yet at the same time, I strive and struggle to understand the chemistry that makes those friendships not only practical but—at the risk of sounding cheesy—magical. Why do I click so well with certain people, and why do they click with me?

I don’t really have any answers. I suspect I never really will. I only know I’m grateful that so many amazing people over the years have seen things in me that they liked enough to call me friend.

What about you? What are your thoughts on the mystery of friendship? I’m truly curious!

(I’m trying not to overwhelm you with all of Annalie’s birthday photos at once, because believe me there are plenty of them. Unfortunately I think instead I’m making you all feel like you’re never going to stop hearing about it, and wondering how spoiled our kid must be that her birthday was such a huge deal. I promise that the birthday posts are almost done, and that the number of photos doesn’t indicate a spoiled kid, just a fun day full of great photo ops that Brenda and I couldn’t pass up. Which reminds me, I need to go reload B’s Starbucks card to thank her for taking so many of the photos on Annalie’s birthday while I was busy doing hostess-y things. Later!)