With Friends Like These...

On Tuesday, I went to see a friend who had just returned from California where she had been helping her parents pack up their things for a move. She was telling me about the trip and said that she came home with a suitcase full of things that her mother no longer wanted. She then went into another room and returned with the fanciest rabbit I have ever seen. This rabbit is big. It has long ears bedecked with frilly green ribbons and it is wearing a floral dress and plaid bloomers that might have previously belonged to Laura Ingalls. I gasped in horror and laughed. My friend is a lot like me and neither of us are into ribbons and petticoats. This rabbit is not something that either of us would have in our homes in a million years. But, my friend's mother loved it and wanted it to go to someone she knew and so my friend brought it back with her. So, there I stood laughing at this large ornate rabbit when my friend spoke words that struck fear in my heart. She said with a mischievous smile, "I think Zeca would love this." I laughed nervously and said, "Oh...she would...but she must never know of this." There will be no oversized frilly rabbits in my house. That night, the kids and I spontaneously ended up having dinner with this friend and her family. We shared a great meal and then all the children dispersed to play. We sat at the table chatting and then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. My daughter had found the oversized frilly rabbit. She was waltzing with it, cooing into its freakishly long ears. Filled with panic and horror, I turned to my friend for help but she simply said, "I knew she'd love it." Then, this friend...a woman I have known for over 20 years...did the unspeakable. She got up, went over to Zeca and said, "Honey, you can take that bunny home with you." Zeca's eyes widened in joy. My friend turned to me and flashed a most evil grin and I said, "Oh, we could never take something so special." My friend looked deeply into Zeca's eyes and said, "Zeca, I want you to have the bunny" and that was that.  The large frilly bunny has come to stay with us and she loves that damn rabbit. Loves it. I find it aesthetically displeasing but what can I do when faced with the cuteness. (Click to enlarge the collage).

The pictures capture only part of the love. I thought you all might like to see the love revealed in real time...

In completely unrelated news, I am now accepting applications for new friends. I haven't opened up this process in about 20 years but recent circumstances have resulted in a few openings. People with frilly rabbits need not apply.

ETA: Remember...today is the last day to enter the Up Popped A Fox reader appreciation giveaway. Leave a comment on this post today and be entered to win The Peep Show DVD (with extras) or a CD of original music.