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Amy and I are two of the busiest people I know. Her professionally, me personally. She’s building a career and a brand—like the kids do these days—and I’m finding myself with a social life. I think we both find these things a little baffling. Regardless, when we try to plan something together, it usually looks like this:

Me: I have these three days available in the next four weeks.

Her: One of those three works for me but only during this very narrow window! 

Me: On my calendar!

We discovered that there is a bar equally convenient to both of us that does a monthly whiskey special. Two ounce pour, as you like it, for five bucks. Amy describes herself as a bourbon enthusiast and I also manage One-line Whiskey. It practically writes itself, doesn’t it? Sometimes we meet for 30 minutes before she has to run off to host an event. Sometimes it turns into three drinks and a walk and then dinner.

I don’t have the same kind of relationship with the bartender there as I do at my watering hole. I don’t feel comfortable asking to take a picture of the bottle like I usually do so I ask Amy to hand model for me. She does fabulous things with her nails. This time, I brought her color-changing nail polish. I have the “Birdie" on my toe nails right now. It works. 

Amy and her husband split the age gap between myself and my daughter. There have been times when she’s carried on separate conversations with both of us at the same time. We have so much in common and so many differences and it works. We talk about our jobs and our goals and our families and about books and whiskey and nail polish. We rely on each other for support and for advice and for the occasional cute cat picture. We are serious and we are silly. We are practical and we are full of whimsy. We examine our calendars and we find the time because taking that moment to stop moving for 30 minutes or three hours for that pressure release is important. 

And sometimes there’s nail polish because the whimsy is important too.
 

Whiskey shown: James E Pepper 1776 Straight Rye Whiskey - That’ll put hair on your chest. Bit strong on the first couple of sips but mellowed nicely as the ice melted a little.