The other day I was lamenting the fact that my two best friends live so far away from me. Which led me to actually thinking about my friends, which led me to trying to remember how we met.

Jennifer- Jennifer. . .my best friend. We met. . .sophomore year? Yes, the end of sophomore year in high school. I had been going through some angsty teen moments (probably worthy of an episode of Beverly Hills 90210) and Jennifer was working at the front desk of the girls dorm as the phone operator. I don't know if we had spoken before, but for some reason, I remember talking to her that night. And we talked. And talked. I let out all my feelings and frustrations and after her shift ended, I remember walking over to her room and talking some more. I don't know if you remember this Jen, but I remember going to your room, sitting down in some sort of butterfly chair and we were trying to find a radio station in Bumfuck, VA that played good music. After that. . .our friendship was sealed. I would go to Jen for anything, all my troubles and worries. I could unload on her. There are times when I feel bad, like she's my personal psychologist and so I try to get her to tell me her issues also.

The strange thing about our friendship is that we never fought. Ever. I attribute that mainly to Jennifer's easy going way; she's just too good to fight. I've fought with every one of my friends; I'm passionate and stubborn. But Jen. . .I never wanted to fight with her. We've had our moments where we would get tense, but I could never see myself blowing up at Jen.

Favorite memories? When we went to the Dominican Republic together. Alone. At 18. Her kissing the bartender! Us laying nude on the beach. Having some random girl come up to us and offer drugs in her room (we used to be so innocent!). Jen. . .name some more. I've had too many great memories with you. What I love most about Jen is that no matter what we do. . .if we're just hanging out in a room or exploring the streets or dancing all night. . .I'll never be bored. Ever.

Mar- Mar. . . I can't remember how we met! Can you believe that? I really can't. I do remember that we went snowboarding together and that's what cemented our friendship but I don't remember why we went snowboarding together. I just remember sitting with you on the bus ride to the mountain and we talked the whole ride (remember how the bus driver hit a deer??).

My friendship with Mar is amazing. Mostly because of all my friends, she's the one I spent the least amount of time with. We were only friends for a few months sophomore year of high school but our bond has lasted until now. . .7 years later. She was an exchange student from Spain who came to our boarding school to learn English. We were only friends for . . . 4 months? AND we had a small language barrier! But in those four months we became inseparable. We spent lunches, dinners, rec time together. We hung out at night. We gossiped about the boys we liked. She became my best friend. However, near the end of the year, we did get into a fight. Over something completely stupid. School ended, we didn't speak and she went back to Spain. It was summer break and I was looking at pictures we had together and I. Felt. So. Stupid. Here was this girl who I had become best friends with and who I thought of as my sister, and we were fighting over something so ridiculous? So, for the first time in my life, I became the first person to apologize. I never apologized first. Ever. But this was the first time a friendship ended that I wanted to salvage. So I e-mailed her (she was in Spain, I was in NJ) and told her how stupid I was and that I missed her and could we please be friends again? She e-mailed me back and . . . the rest is history. We've been friends for 7 years now and have only seen each other 4 times. She's stayed with my family, I've stayed with her family. I know that no matter what direction my life will go or what I do, I'll always have her.

Favorite memories? Dancing to Destiny's Child in my room (I need to find those videos!). Gossiping about the Cathlin brothers. Talking about the fireman ;). Tequila on her roof. And many many more to come.

What makes these friends best friends? Or any more special than the other friends I have?

Because no matter how much time goes by that we don't speak (and there have been months, even years!), we can pick up the conversation like it was yesterday. There's no awkwardness. I truly consider these girls my sisters. If anything happened to them, I'd be there in an instant. And I know they'd do the same for me.

It's just such a shame that I don't get to see them that much. :(

How did you meet your best friend?

Labels: friends, memories