Two lists of favorites

I was just surfing my long list of internet favorites, when I realized I could classify everything into two categories. There are before and after favorites. There are people who knew me before and people who got to know me after. They are two different and distinct groups.

The people who knew me before are mostly moms that I shared the birth of my first son with. The people who got to know me after are mostly moms that I shared the birth/death of my second son with.

The people who knew me before don't talk about politics, religion, or most other "serious" topics because it's likely to cause a debate and result in hurt feelings. The people who got to know me after ALWAYS talk about this stuff because their feelings are mostly already hurting in some way and this stuff isn't as important anymore.

The people who knew me before can experience uninhibited joy at the announcement of a BFP. The people who got to know me after all know that the BFP is only the beginning of the worrying.

The people who knew me before knew someone who smiled readily and was ready with a sarcastic comment. The people who got to know me after know a much softer me...someone who is much sadder and less likely to be critical.

The people who knew me before are mostly self-assured about everything they do...they know who they are and where they are going. The people who got to know me after know that no matter what you plan, life and death can make you question every decision you've ever made.

There are so many more differences that it would take me all day to list them all. There is one similarity. Both groups of people are wonderful parents who love their children.