Forty Years?!

I met her in 1971 when I moved from Ozona back to San Angelo.  I can't remember if we were in the same second grade class, but surely we were.  How else would I have met her?  She was the sweetest, prettiest, nicest girl.  Very petite, long brown hair, a button nose.  We became fast friends. 

We shared secrets.  We practically lived at each others' house.  We were together at every turn.  We took vacations together --- riding in the back of a covered pick up truck to Toledo Bend --- taking the bus to Houston to visit family.  Her dad was running red lights trying to get us to the bus station in time in the wee hours of the morning!  If we weren't together, we were on the phone together. 

We made it through elementary school having a crush on the same boy.  We joined junior high together.  We were in the band.  We were editors of the year book.  We both loved Mrs. Alexander.  We made other friends, but WE were besties.

High school arrived.  My dream was for her to marry Steven, me to marry Matt and live next door to each other for ever and always.  (Cue the Garth Brooks song "Sometimes I Thank God for Unanswered Prayers".)  We had some squabbles and grew apart.  We let other people come between us.  We graduated, went our separate ways.  But, there was still a thread that held us together.  We knew each others' secrets, after all. 

Marriages, kids, ups, downs.  We kind of lost touch and didn't share those parts of our lives.  I learned second hand when her children were born, but I rejoiced with her.  We were now "adults" and had "adult lives".  No room for childhood friends?  Sometimes "adults" don't really act all adult like, do they? 

But --- a friendship like ours doesn't die.  It changes.  It adjusts.  It may thin out in spots, but it doesn't die.  Ever. 

The dreams of our childhood didn't work out the way I had envisioned.  We didn't marry Steve and Matt; we don't live next door.  In fact, Ted and I live 21 hours away from she and Kenny, and we haven't seen each other in six years.  Haven't even talked on the phone in about that long.  But, should anyone to ask the name of my best girlfriend, I would instantly say "Connie".  We may have other best friends now, maybe even stronger relationships than we had with each other.  But, no one will be my friend longer, and none of my friendships will ever be as pure as that very first one.  Something just clicked and now we are linked forever.  And our secrets?  They're still safe.

Happy 40th anniversary, my friend.  I love you!