I’m a very blessed girl; I’ve had many best girl friends in different parts of my life. Most of my childhood best friends I’ve lost touch with, some have passed away and others I have recently reconnected with through Facebook. In 7th grade I had a best friend that I cherished, I often think about her and wish we wouldn’t have lost touch. She had no idea how she influenced me as a christian. She has no idea why our friendship came to an end, I was made to walk away from her. One of those things you wish you could go back and redo or stand up for what was important to you. To this day I wish I could find out where she lives knock on her door and tell her the truth, let her know I missed her over the years. Sometimes things might be best left in the past, maybe someday I’ll get a chance to know for sure.
A best friend doesn’t have to be a person. I had a best friend for 15 years and he was furry, cute and sweet. “Frostie” was a schnoodle we bought for my son but he and I were attached at the hip. Greg traveled a lot so Frostie was always next to me protecting me from all the things that made noises in the dark. He was the best dog ever. When I was happy and excited he would jump around just because. When I was sad he would get in my lap and cuddle with me to bring comfort. I loved him dearly and when he died it was a deep hurt. I think of him often and find myself remembering our life together.
I have a best friend I’ve had for about 27 years her name is Shiela. She was around when I was a very young mom and really needed a lot of advice. We had so many good times. She taught me how to clean my house, how to decorate on the down low when you had little to no money to spend. She taught me that if you can buy it at a garage sale spray paint it and make it look new it was a good day. She also taught me that my husband and kids were the most important job I could ever have. I love her very much. We don’t get to see each other much but we do keep in touch. When we do see each other or talk it’s as if no time has passed. One could say she raised me.
For the past 17 years my BFF has been Karen Drake. We moved in next to each other when our 2 youngest were in Kindergarten. She has been a strong corner stone of who I am today. We have cried together, laughed, giggled, got out of trouble, have secrets on each other and well even lied for each other. I’m just being honest here lol. If only the walls could talk, well maybe its a good thing they don’t. Karen held my hand in some of the lowest points of my life, held me up when we moved out of our beautiful home, stood beside me when the love of my life was so sick and then helped me welcome my sweet grandson into the world. She even gave me my name for my grandson to call me “Lolli”. She has seen the best of me and worst of me. As I have seen the best and worst of her. We have no secrets from each other but oh the secrets we know on each other. Over the past 2 and a half years we have been on a get healthy journey together and I love having her hold my hand. She is a blessing to me.
I can’t finish this blog about best friends without talking about the gals at Results Fitness. These women grabbed hold of me and sometimes carried me over the past 2 and a half years. I could not have walked this walk without them. They have seen me happy, down, terrified and broken. They have wiped my tears and cheered me on all in the name of friendship. Thank you Nancy, Nicole, Leann, Amber, Jennifer, Rachel, Mrs. Eddy, Nicky, Teresa, Carmen, Lori and Laura. Also the rest of the ladies that stand by me in class and pass me with words of encouragement.
Finally best friends bring to your life unexpected things. My friend Janice brought to my life her son who after many years came to be my Rock Star son-in-law. Susan showed me how to have unconditional love as I watched her change her life for a small child. Sara taught me I could do and be more than I knew and My daughter, Heather, taught me its okay to cry, “Mom really its ok.”
Best friends are God’s gift to women. We have so much to teach each other and so much to give each other. Without best friends in our lives we are left to struggle. I find it hard to imagine life with out any of the women who have passed through my life. We all have them; they are there. If you lost touch reach out – call or go see them. If you were truly best friends you still are no matter the time or distance between you. I for one find that friends are part of what makes life Blue Happy!
