We were both eating at the flatbread place next to the great discounted home goods store. The flatbread place is obscure if you don't frequent the home goods store, so right off we had food and furnishings in common.
The more obvious thing we had in common was the little people in tow. Pigtail was in a stroller, her twin toddlers were in cowgirl costumes with monkey backpacks. As the kids eyed one another and then poked each others eye - the universal greeting for the under 2 set - we exchanged small smiles and inquired of the children's ages. Her mom was beside her, visiting L.A. from somewhere in the midwest, and she was chattier.
It happened to be the day that I had hot rollered my hair for my blog, so I looked prissier than usual. When she went to the counter for extra napkins I saw that she had on cargo pants and Chuck Taylors. She looked a lot more comfortable than I did.
They finished their meal while I was still feeding Pigtail bites off my plate. For the few minutes it took to gather their things, I opened my mouth at least three times to start another conversation. To ask if she lived in the area, or ever went to story time or music class. I couldn't seem to form the words, though. Our kids hit it off within moments but their mommas were too shy or too wary to be anything other than polite.
As the cowgirls exited the side door, I wondered if I had just missed a good opportunity. Momma friends are hard to make and harder to keep and I'm never going to have more than a few by staying quiet.
Next time, I told myself.
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