Welcome to The Kiki Show! This is the show about everything, nothing, and the WHATEVER in between. If you love listening to the sound of my voice (secret: I DON’T like the sound of my own voice), you should also check out my other podcast, Create If Writing.
[podcast]
Do you remember your first friend?
My first best friend that I really remember was a boy. I also wanted to marry him. But he broke my heart over some powdered Tang. After that, I mostly stuck to girl friends. There was Katie, my best friend in third grade. We wrote novels together and sat on the back fence at her house, waving at cars driving down Short Pump Road. (Until our horrified parents found out.)
Then in fourth grade I moved and met Alysia, who helped me transition to a new school until Emily and I become best friends for the rest of my school-age years. We bonded over tricking our annoying neighbor at the bus stop and spent essentially the next ten years getting into minor trouble. (I also had some other great friends: Amber, Katy, Molly, and Stacy to name a few.)
Then I moved on to college and met my best friend Ginny and my other best friend Jenna. And, of course, Lydie, who had a number of adventures with me. And Sarah and Laura and a bunch of other wonderful girls. We had a blast and were weird and fun together.
Then I got out of college and moved to Katy, Texas where there was approximately one other person my age. His name was Rob and we didn’t like each other. (Spoiler alert: we later got married and had a bunch of kids.) Getting out of college is an INSANE time to make friends. You go from being in a concentrated area with literally THOUSANDS of people your age to wondering where all those people are hiding.
Today I’m talking friends on the show and how hard it is as an adult to make friends. It happens so slowly because you don’t have time. And then six months down the line when you realize that person you’ve been having coffee with once a month is actually CRAZY, how do you break up with a friend? It’s a challenge.

Roller derby really helped because you cannot HELP but be friends with people you see three times a week and who will likely touch your butt for at least 30% of that time. But once you’re not derbying, it’s hard to keep up with THOSE friends too. Stupid life, always getting in the way.
How have YOU made friends as an adult?