November 2025:
I met a friend for tea to catch up on what we’ve each been doing lately. We hadn’t seen each other for over a year. That was when she broke up with me. Yes, we dated. We were together for about a year before the break-up. The breakup was over huevos verdes at The Dish Cafe, a wonderful, funky breakfast-and-brunch restaurant on Leary Way, halfway between the Ballard and Fremont neighborhoods in Seattle. The Dish serves huge portions, and their huevos verdes is served with a green sauce that beats any red sauce, any day. They also serve a bevy of other American and Mexican dishes for breakfast. And, have more hot sauces behind the counter than at any other restaurant I’ve been to.

That morning, she just – while I was enjoying those green eggs (Dr. Suess be damned) – matter-of-factly said, “I can’t be with you anymore.” Of course, the writing was on the wall for a month before. But, as is frequently the case with dying relationships, we deny the decline for too long. In the end, the break-up was mostly my fault because of my big mouth. I said something about dating men, and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back for her. I didn’t cry, nor take off in a huff when she made her announcement. I just said, “ok,” and finished my huevos.

As we said goodbye before going our separate ways, one of us said, “Let’s stay friends,” and both agreed. As I walked to my car, I thought, “Yeah, right. I’ve heard that ‘friend’ thing before. We’ll never see each other again.”

Since that morning, we’ve exchanged texts every once in a while.

Me: “Hey, I’m in Lisbon.”

Her: “I’m graduating from graduate school.”

Me: “I saw this thing, and it reminded me of you.”

Her: “I bought a plane, and I am going to flight school.”

A year later, we are sitting in the Rough and Tumble, a woman’s sports bar in Ballard.  We had one of our first dates there, shooting pool, drinking, and eating their killer carnitas nachos. This time, we are just enjoying hot tea as we chat about what’s been up recently in our lives and our various endeavors. She shows me videos that her flight instructor took of her solo takeoffs and landings. I show her my new website. No drama, no “missing you, missing us.” Just two friends now living our separate lives.

I haven’t felt any animosity towards her. That’s probably due to my years of therapy, ha! I am no longer emotionally invested in a romantic relationship with her. That gave me the freedom to invest in our friendship. I was wrong on that day we broke up. We did stay in touch, and are now good friends. And, that, felt good!