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Allison Larkin

Internationally Best-Selling Author

You are here: Home / Ladies / The Other 1/4

The Other 1/4

August 13, 2010 Filed Under: Ladies, The Other 1/4

Thanks to a Google maps mishap, I got lost on my way to the Syracuse University Bookstore Book Fair. When I finally found the fair location, I parked my car quickly, grabbed my bag, and ran toward a giant ice cream cone that I assumed was fair-related (thankfully, it was). I did not take any note of where I parked my car.
So when The Accountant & The Other 1/4 stopped by at the end of the event to meet up so we could grab dinner, I came to the realization that I hadn’t the foggiest where in downtown Syracuse I’d parked my car.
“I think it’s on Harrison,” The Other 1/4 said, with great authority, when we climbed in her car so she could drive me around to mine.
“It doesn’t sound familiar,” I said. I hadn’t told her anything that would give any clues to the location of the car. “I ran toward a giant ice cream cone, that’s all I know. I don’t remember seeing a sign for Harrison.”
“Let’s just try Harrison,” she insisted.
***
Back at Ithaca, I’d go to dinner with my ladies almost every night. Even though neither of us were particularly argumentative in general, The Other 1/4 and I would get into stupid debates and unending arguments at almost every single dinner. Finally, one evening, The Professor, in all her calm, amazing glory said, “Why don’t you two realize you’re both arguing the same exact point?”
And it was true. We were totally arguing on the same side of of almost everything, we just weren’t listening to the other person enough to realize it. After The Professor’s grand statement, things changed completely.
1/4 and I look enough alike that we get mistaken for each other. We can finish each other’s sentences, and explain things to each other using the weirdest examples known to man (akin to “You know how when you’re on an elevator and you have that feeling like the first day of school in the fall wearing a sweater and it completely reminds you of that time we went to Sylvan Beach and…”), and I can’t hide a damn emotion from that woman. If I’m trying to keep something a secret, she knows. If I’m upset and don’t want to trouble anyone with it, she knows. All she needs to hear is me saying, “Hey Lady,” when I pick up the phone and she instantly knows everything. I love her fiercely.
Once, when we did one of the freaky saying the same thing at the same time thing, The Other 1/4 was going to say it was because we shared a brain. Instead, she said “It’s because we share 1/2 a brain.” Hence, she is my other 1/4, and we may be short a lobe or something, but at least we have each other.
***
On the way to Harrison St. we passed several other parking lots and I made The Other 1/4 turn down a couple of side streets that looked slightly familiar. But, the second we turned down Harrison, there was the lot with my car.
“How did you know it was on Harrison?” I asked.
“I just did,” she said. “I must have been using the whole half when you were parking.”
Also, we can both balance 4 spoons on our faces at the same time. Not the same 4 spoons, of course. That would be weird.

5 Comments

Comments

  1. Sara says

    August 13, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    You two are hilarious! I think that this needs to be engraved on a fancy, decorative plate or something: “We may be short a lobe or something, but at least we have each other.” :)

    Reply
  2. Kate says

    August 14, 2010 at 2:32 am

    Those are the BEST friends of all. Do you call her The Other 1/4 in real life or just blog life?

    Reply
  3. Courtney says

    August 17, 2010 at 1:21 pm

    Aww, that’s sweet!

    Reply
  4. The Modern Gal says

    August 17, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    That’s a great story!

    I got to see my childhood best friend this weekend, and even though we haven’t seen much of each other in the past few years, we can still communicate with our eyes.

    Reply
  5. Brenda says

    August 17, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    Love this!! Thank you for the smiles :)

    Reply

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Internationally bestselling author of STAY, WHY CAN'T I BE YOU and SWIMMING FOR SUNLIGHT. THE PEOPLE WE KEEP coming from @gallerybooks on 8/3/2021

Allison Larkin
Snoring so hard with that paw on her nose. 😍 #d Snoring so hard with that paw on her nose. 😍 #dailystelladog
Actually, the real question is: Why don’t YOU ha Actually, the real question is: Why don’t YOU have a giant seashell full of super balls on your desk? #authorsofinstagram #deskdecor #weirdo #superballs
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Back at it, because I knew the longer I waited the Back at it, because I knew the longer I waited the harder it would be to get back at it. Sticking to wide trails with good visibility during wild boar piglet season. #trailrunning
A few days ago, I took this photo of turkeys while A few days ago, I took this photo of turkeys while I was out on a run, marveling at how wild animals do not seem to mind when they see me. Once, I almost bumped into a deer, the way a couple might meet-cute in a rom com. We just didn’t see each other. I’ve always thought it was a fun little quirk. Not even bunnies are afraid of me. But this afternoon on my run, I came up over a hill and was suddenly within fifteen feet of a wild boar. Thankfully, a year or two ago I got curious about the big traps that show up trailside around the bay, looked them up and learned about how fast, ruthlessly aggressive, and unpredictable a wild boar can be. Otherwise, I might have (stupidly) thought I was in the middle of another one of my Snow White moments and been all “Hello there, Mr. Pig! Look at you!” believing that I could quietly observe in wonder. Instead, I knew this was a bad situation. The boar grunted and moved to the center of the trail. It felt very ‘You shall not pass!’ But I did not want to pass. I wanted to get away. I backed slowly for a few moments and then turned and ran faster than I ever have in my whole life. I’ve since learned that there’s no way that boar chased me, because there’s no chance of outrunning a boar (climb a tree if you can). But I know that boar saw me and also wasn’t happy about the surprise, and I had a moment, racing back over the hills I’d just run — not daring to look behind me more than once or twice in fear I’d lose my footing — when I truly did not know what would happen. I’ve been in scary situations, but they were a different kind of scary. I don’t think I’ve ever flat out run for my life before, but that’s truly what I thought I was doing. Right now I am still full of adrenaline and also exhausted and so so thankful to be okay.
My lemon is a happy fox. #fruitfaces My lemon is a happy fox. #fruitfaces
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