Over the years I have had many friends in my life.
My first friend was a spunky blonde named Katie. We met in kindergarten over the crafts table and were inseparable until I was forced to move out of state. Next, there was Lynn, another beautiful blonde. We would ride the bus together and giggle at each other while we took turn saying the forbidden word, "butt". Later on I met Amy. She wore big glasses and so did I. We would ride bikes together, always riding further than we were allowed by our mothers. In middle school, Kelly and I were extremely close. We would gab over popcorn and movies about boys we liked and what it would be like to be all grown up one day.
Well, that day has arrived. I'm all grown up, or so I'm told. And while the process of growing up has been a long, sometimes bumpy road, it has been a road that I have, for the most part, traveled alone.
Oh yes, I had plenty of company along the way. I had many people in my life in high school that I called friends. Lynn, Amy and Kelly were all there. But somehow our lives began going in different directions and none of us could quite hold on tight enough to what we had. In college I had friends that I partied with, friends that I got in trouble with, friends that I would go out with and friends I would lose touch with.
However, it has only been recently that I have realized what a 'grown-up' friendship must be like. Surprisingly, that 'grown-up' friendship is not much different from the earliest friendships in my life.
Keri is a spunky and beautiful blonde. We like to ride around town singing whatever is on the radio at the top of our lungs. Sometimes, when either of us says a dirty word we'll giggle like little girls. We might not ride bikes, but we do sometimes stay out later than we admit to our mothers. We both like to gab over popcorn and watch movies. The conservations about boys though sometimes make us laugh, cry or simply sit in silence in support of each other.
I used to fear that one day I would be all grown up and the harsh world would take away my sense of freedom, childlike wonder and sense of fun. Yet, an amazing friendship has afforded me all that I once feared was lost and even more. Keri is my rock. She is my spring board for ideas. She lets me vent anytime I need. We both love a good margarita. Keri laughs with me until our sides ache. She is everything that a girl could ask for in a best friend.
If I looked through my old school stuff I would probably find plenty of folders with [Someone] + Kate =BFF. Funny. There was a point in my life where I thought such things were childish and impossible. Yet, I still keep in touch with Katie through Facebook. I will watch Lynn get married soon. I will be a bridesmaid in Amy's wedding in the spring. And Kelly, well, that's still an avenue I'm working on.
But for now all I know is, Keri +Kate=BFF.
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