When I was a fourteen year old girl who felt all alone in the world, I would walk to school because we lived so close. I am not sure how many days of eighth grade had passed before this girl who lived down the road and around the corner yelled for me to wait up. When I stopped it changed my life.
It turns out that both of us had survived seventh grade hell (gym class) together, but had never talked. But on this morning something clicked and we walked to and from school together every day until she moved to Nashville.
S introduced me to Heavy Metal Music. S and her family took me to my first ever concert, Poison. I also saw Ozzy Osbourne and Lalapalooza '94 with her.
We loved to tell dirty jokes, to listen to our music, to make up stories. We each had our goals in life, and one of us attained them.
When she moved to Nashville halfway through eighth grade I thought the world was coming to an end. But our families were gracious enough to make it work for us. We got to spend one weekend a month together, so we would alternate between Nashville and Dickson. This was before it was free to call Nashville, long before it was free I might add.
We wrote long letters, we called when we could. We grew into our teenage selves. Somehow my course strayed from the true and I ended up on a darker course that wasn't leading anywhere good.
I felt I had no future, therefore I had no goals, and no purpose. I knew that to control my world I needed to control the men in it and I was learning this skill quite well and it got me in a pickle.
S's family was one of a few that helped to bail me out. No judgment was ever passed. They still loved me.
Over the next few years a neighbor of S's would bring her down or come pick me up and somehow he coined the term "Country Mouse" and it became a joke between us.
High school was a little more difficult to stay in touch, but we made it work. After high school, she went on to attend college and I went to work and moved in with a boyfriend.
She came to my first wedding. We laughed a lot and it was the best part of that day was seeing her and two friends from my job. For her to drive all that way meant the world to me. She also came to my baby shower for my oldest son. And you guessed it, an amazing day. We laughed so very hard. I didn't realize it yet, but this was the beginning of pick up where we left off without missing a beat. We stayed in touch, and I ended up divorced and she graduated college.
My sister and I made the very long drive to see her graduate and it was another of my greatest memories ever. There was a lot of rain that day, some how we ended up on the scenic route to the restaurant, we laughed and it all felt so good.
Years passed and so did our adventures. Sometimes it felt as if I would never reconnect with her, but we would. She had come to my oldest son's first, second and fifth birthday parties. And every single time it as if we had never been apart. She eventually moved out of state far away. I wasn't able to attend her wedding, but I relished any letter she me. It was so refreshing to read her take on life, to hear the adventure in her voice.
Two years ago I was about to move back to El Paso. We had one evening we could get together. Her soon to be new husband cooked an amazing dinner and my kids played in her apartment. Which I might add has the most amazing library. Well she is a librarian after all.
At the time I met her I was at a real low. I really needed a refresher. I walked about feeling so much better about my situation and exactly what I needed to do. Her and her husband made me laugh and they listened.
I spent the next two years finding me for the first time ever. I took control of my life and realized that it really is okay to say no sometimes. And most importantly to mean it and stick to it. I did begin taking online classes for an associates degree. I was able to remove myself from most negativity and drama.
I have returned to Tennessee. I am a new person, an older version of the one who drove away two years ago. I am in control of my life and I am enjoying every minute of it.
Today I was able to meet with her and her husband in this trendy little place in Nashville. It was an amazing afternoon.
My how we have each come full circle. She knew me so well, and didn't bat an I when I told her I am struggling with my place in the religious scheme of it all. She talked to me about it and how to see it. We discussed education and her library at the school she works for. We talked about memories and good times and bad times.
I'm telling you now if you don't have a true friend like this you are missing out. I have many great friends. Many people I talk to on an almost daily basis, but this is my oldest friendship and it was born out of need, but continues to blossom as it grows.
It will be interesting to see how long it is until I see her again and where our next visit will be. This girl has always been true to herself and those around her. I am certain there is a lot I can learn from her.
December 28, 2015
Dedicated to the best friend I have ever had and to our futures. Thank you for always being there to show me how to reach for the stars.
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