The journey of friendship

In my life, I've had some good friends. Some were just like me and some were the opposite. Some came in and out without a thought, others stayed forever. This blog is dedicated to one who stayed a forever friend.

Years ago as a teenager I struggled with friendships. Well not really struggled. Let me explain. I have a twin sister so that kind of gives you a sort of built in friend. Outside of that I really never looked to have more friends. I was not a very social person. In fact, my mother tells me when I was little, people would see the "twins" and come and talk with us and I would hide behind her skirt while my sister basked in the attention. So you see having many friends was never a big deal for me. Most of our friends were really her friends and my acquaintances.

Then the teenage years hit. I still didn't long for friends but found one anyway. She actually got along better with me than she did my sister. Of course, as I later found out, we liked the same guy. In the truest sense of teenage immaturity, we took turns liking this hunk of a guy. He was younger than we were but we didn't care. It was only by a couple of years. Anyway, we formed a good friendship despite being each other's 'competition'. After awhile this guy joined our friendship and toward the end of the year he and I became an 'item'. My girlfriend and I still remained good friends throughout. After awhile however I realized that I could not continued dating (that's right I said it!) this guy. Our lives were going in two different directions. I also found that my girlfriend and I were going in different directions. We never fought over him, he was never the problem. Our priorities were just different. After high school she went one way and I went the other. My boyfriend seemed to want to take the same road as she and we broke it off. The problem now, is that I had a group of 'friends' that I had gotten comfortable with. They were people I could hang out with, be myself with. People who like me for me and not because I was a part of a pair. Boy would that change. I was soon to learn the value of true friendship.

After a meeting one night, I saw a tall (I'm only 5'4" so everyone is tall to me!) redheaded girl and her family visiting. I'm usually not the type to go and introduce myself to people. I was way too shy for that. However, I realized that both my friend and boyfriend were not going to be a part of the equation and I needed to start new, so I went up to her and introduced myself. She was nothing like me. She was bubbly, friendly, uninhibited, and LOUD!! I loved her to death from the start! She and her family were visiting Charleston on vacation. We all went out to eat that night and I got to know her and her family. The next day she invited me to the beach house where they were staying. We walked along the beach and played cards and basically set a great foundation for a great friendship. They were only there for a week and so soon Beth was gone. We kept in touch briefly. (No Internet or unlimited long distance back then!) She assured me that they come to Charleston every year so I'd see her again. Of course I figured I'd go back to my boring life and she'd go back to her exciting life and that would be that.

She came back the next summer and a few more after that. As we got older, it was easier to keep in touch since we weren't hindered by the travel plans of our parents. To this day Beth and I remain very good friends. In fact, when I met the true love of my life, she was in my wedding! She soon got married shortly afterward and her husband came down to meet us. We always joked that no matter the distance and time between us, we always managed to pick up our friendship right where we left it. It's funny really. Whenever we get together, it's like no time had been lost.

It's been years since I've talked or communicated with Beth in any way. That was until today. I got an email from her this morning. She said every morning she gets up waiting to read my blog. She says I write it like I'm talking to her. (Thanks sweetie!) I hate to write so that's a big complement to me! She said it felt like old times the way we comfortably fit back into each other's lives. She's right. I smiled and giggled so much when I got her email. I felt like we were back in Charleston and she was coming in for a visit. In an instant, I felt the connection.

My ex-boyfriend ended up marrying a dear friend of mine (I introduced them!). We vacationed together one year with our families (it wasn't as awkward as I thought it would be). They have two boys and so do we. The kids adored each other and we're still friends to this day! My girlfriend from that time... well I've not heard from her in over 18 years and don't think I ever will. That's OK though. Through that experience, I learned to make my own friends.

So now, I'll be blogging with some regularity since Beth's out there waiting to here about what I accomplish all in a day's work!

Until next time,
It's just me!