Refrigerator Rights

I once read a book about leadership and team dynamics. It was saying that the best teams are those that are close and have relationship beyond the work. True teams have "refrigerator rights" in one anothers homes. "Refrigerator rights" means that someone can be at your house and rummage through your fridge without even asking. There is that amount of relationship there that you don't even ask, you just rummage.

For the last nine days I was in Ruston with my mom. She had rotator cuff surgery last week and I went to be home in case she needed anything. She's a tough lady so there wasn't much she really needed me for. Therefore I got to indulge in copious amounts of time with dear friends.

There are a few friends in Ruston whom I most definitely have "refrigerator rights" with. Three sets of friends in fact. Sadly two sets of those friends are moving within the next month. One of the couples is moving to South Louisiana en route to South Africa within the next year. The other set of friends are friends from college who were living in an apartment together. One of the girls is moving to Zambia, Africa and the other is moving to Virginia. That leaves only one refrigerator that I can rummage through in Ruston (other than my moms).

I can't help but feel the sadder part of it all though is that after two years in Lafayette, the only refrigerator rights I have are in my own fridge. I miss that. I miss people whom I have deep relationships with. I miss going over to friends houses and apartments to visit and hang out and goof off til all hours of the night.

I couldn't help but feel a little sad today as I made my drive back to Lafayette. It's sad that when I return to Ruston, so many of my friends will no longer be there. And it's sad to leave behind my refrigerator rights and go back "home" to where I have yet to find such rights somewhere.

Until then......