This week's Friday Five entry:

1. Do you remember your first best friend? Who was it?
Yes, her name was Kelly and I must have met her when I was 2 because we were living in England at the time. She lived down the street from us. Somewhere there is a picture of us dressed up as bears for a pre-school production of The Three Bears (I was Baby Bear). Speaking of bears...I once bit Kelly in the back because she took my teddy bear and would not give it back. My grandmother loves to tell this story. The only other thing I can really remember about Kelly is that she once told me that death was like sitting in a dark room all by yourself. At the time the notion of such a thing scared the holy living crap out of me.

2. Are you still in touch with this person?
We moved away when I was four and I haven't seen her since but I think my grandmother still may be in touch with her family.

3. Do you have a current close friend?
I have a few but I've found that the older I get the harder it is to maintain friendships. This makes me really sad sometimes. We're all so busy and people move away and drift apart.... As a result, I've been trying hard to value what I have. I don't always do a good job and working full-time and going to grad school hasn't helped the situation. What's really hard is when you feel like you are making the effort but the other person doesn't seem to care or make the effort in return. There you are, 33 years old, and suddenly feeling like you're 8 again and it's the first day of the third grade and everybody but you has this friendship thing figured out...

4. How did you become friends with this person?
Most of my good friends were met either through various jobs I've had or through the local music scene. A few I've met through other friends.


5. Is there a friend from your past that you wish you were still in contact with? Why?
Yes definitely - a few. I'd love to get in touch with Maya Tauber if anyone out there knows her, send her my way, please! Why? Because I remember Maya as being this really fun, free-spirited and smart person...and you can never have too many friends like that...