My friend, Kate

It seems odd to me that no matter where I go in life - from high school to college to grad school - I find someone who shares a surprising (should I say disturbing) number of characteristics with me.

When we were 18, Amanda and I had many similarities, but it was only the tip of the iceberg, really, because when I moved on to college, I found Elaine. She and I, even still, have many of the same hobbies, interests, and say the same things at the same time. Dumb things. Things that come out as Grandpa or Dad jokes.

Now, I have Kate to add to this list of crazies. Tonight we decided to come up with a list of our differences, not to create an impasse, but to celebrate the things we don't share, since it seems every time I see her we'll go through this cycle:

Kate: "I like this (where this could be any random thing, idea, or occurrence in the world)."
Me: "Oh! So do I!"
Kate: "Of course you do."

It doesn't even have to be things we Like - it can be dislikes and it can be things that happen to us. Tonight it was that our eyes are almost always red in pictures - you know, the devil red-eye problem.

So, as to our differences, this is the list so far. I will update it from time to time, as we discover more:

- Muppets
Kate loves the Muppets, whereas I do not like them. I do like Fraggle Rock, but that is the extent of my affections. Sometimes I wonder if Kate had the opportunity to be a Muppet, if she would do it. She owns all of their videos, seasons from their TV show, paraphenalia to be sure, and I wouldn't be surprised if she had a few movie soundtracks.

- Avocados
Again, this is something that I dislike and she likes. But this is simple. I don't like avocados or their derivatives. She does.

Granted, there is one other major issue, no, not issue, per se, but difference. I like to think of it as a uniting factor, however, because these characteristics can be grouped under the heading of Food Allergies.
Kate is allergic to wheat, rye, barley and such things.
I am allergic to nuts, peanut butter in particular (which is my favorite food - a later-in-life developed allergy), and sesame products.

Neither allergy is deathly, although we're both convinced that over time, if we were to continue eating our respective black-listed foods, we would die from exposure to the foods.

It's reassuring to have friends just like me. Or at least, almost just like me.