heidikins.com

A few years ago I had a job as the Ad Exec for the entertainment section of the two major newspapers in Salt Lake. My clients were 20th Century Fox, Disney, Sony/Columbia and Paramount. I would schedule their advertising campaigns for movie openings, and I worked with the local movie theaters on their advertising and marketing campaigns as well. I would go to all the Press Screenings for new films, usually with a couple of friends in tow and I got boxes of free movie stuff (T-shirts, books, sweatshirts, posters, notepads, antenna toppers… all SORTS of stuff!). I went to movies probably 3 nights a week, and never EVER paid for a ticket. Yes, it was freakin’ awesome!

However, the absolute best part of my job was becoming friends with Lauren. She worked for one of my largest clients in Denver; we talked on the phone & emailed several times a day (for work or whatever) and after several months we knew an astounding volume of information about each other. As we both moved on to bigger and better things -new jobs, new apartments, new men, new shoes- we’ve stayed close and kept up on each others lives. Lauren is the kind of friend I can tell anything without fear of judgement or backlash. Consequently, she knows my most embarassing stories and the moments when I felt the most ashamed. She knows about the times I have been hurt and the times I have been happy. When I am twitterpated or googly, I call her. When I am lonely or terrified, I call her. Through the last 3 years Lauren has been a constant in my life; she listens, she asks the right questions, she doesn’t criticize me when I do something stupid and she doesn’t judge me when I do it again. She talked me through break-ups, scary interviews, major proposals to clients, horrible bosses, first dates, blind dates, bad dates, family stresses & sicknesses, room mate issues and more break-ups. Her questions got me thinking more about faith and religion, and although we are not part of the same church, her curiosity helped me find my spiritual strength. So far in my life there are only a few people that have become part of the shaping force that has formed me into the woman I am today; Lauren has been one of those people for me. She has stood by me during my most difficult times and my happiest times, supporting me while I found my way, offering a sympathetic ear and a kind word as my life fell apart and sending support and encouragement as I put myself back together.

Lauren, you are an amazing friend and confidant, and I am lucky to have you in my life. Love, heidikins.