My best friend and I met in junior high school. I was sad at the time because it was my eighth grade year and, as highschool approached, I was being forced to once again make new friends. All of my friends from previous years were moving schools for highschool and I knew that eventually I would be left alone at my small Christian school, Linfield.
I was going to Disneyland with my mom and sister and we girls were allowed to bring along a friend. I took this opportunity to get to know Taylor Martindale, a girl I knew was staying for highschool, from my Geography class. So I invited her and it was a blast! We became instant life-long friends at Disneyland, which may be part of the reason why Disneyland has always seemed so magical to me. From that day on we were inseperable an we found that through the school projects, birthday parties, painting nails, pillow fights, book clubs, movie nights, midnight snacks and endless summer pool days we became closer than sisters.
After Highschool we each went on to our seperate places she went to the east coast to William and Mary and I went just an hour and a half north to Azusa. It took me a while to get used to not having her around everyday after highschool, but we talked every week or two on the phone and constantly instant messaged and emailed one another. Plus, she came home on holidays and so we really only had to go a few months without actually hanging out together in person.
On Christmas break of our freshman year--tragedy striked. She and her family moved to Oregon. I was heartbroken as only a best friend could be, but we still kept in touch constantly and in the summer before our sophomore year my boyfriend and I drove up to see her for a few days. This past summer Tay and her family were able to move back to Temecula, Ca--where we grew up and where I still live. It was the best thing that could have happened. We were so excited to just be around each other again. We had sleep overs and play dates all the time--it was just like being in highschool again--only without the lameness.
I was going to Disneyland with my mom and sister and we girls were allowed to bring along a friend. I took this opportunity to get to know Taylor Martindale, a girl I knew was staying for highschool, from my Geography class. So I invited her and it was a blast! We became instant life-long friends at Disneyland, which may be part of the reason why Disneyland has always seemed so magical to me. From that day on we were inseperable an we found that through the school projects, birthday parties, painting nails, pillow fights, book clubs, movie nights, midnight snacks and endless summer pool days we became closer than sisters.
After Highschool we each went on to our seperate places she went to the east coast to William and Mary and I went just an hour and a half north to Azusa. It took me a while to get used to not having her around everyday after highschool, but we talked every week or two on the phone and constantly instant messaged and emailed one another. Plus, she came home on holidays and so we really only had to go a few months without actually hanging out together in person.
On Christmas break of our freshman year--tragedy striked. She and her family moved to Oregon. I was heartbroken as only a best friend could be, but we still kept in touch constantly and in the summer before our sophomore year my boyfriend and I drove up to see her for a few days. This past summer Tay and her family were able to move back to Temecula, Ca--where we grew up and where I still live. It was the best thing that could have happened. We were so excited to just be around each other again. We had sleep overs and play dates all the time--it was just like being in highschool again--only without the lameness.
But alas, we were forced to part ways once again. Only this fall she is living in Sevilla, Spain, not in Virginia, on a study abroad program. And I have recently been forced to come to the horrible realization that I no longer can pick up my phone and call my best friend when something funny happens or when I'm bored on my way home from work like I did so many times before. It's an adjustment like none other. I thought, (stupidly) somehow, that this semester wouldn't be all that different from the many others before it--I guess I just figured that if you're 3,000 miles away what's a few more thousand miles? But I didn't factor into my calculations how busy I would be this semester and the fact that virtually all our communication is going to be through emails and blogs.
The fact of the matter is--I miss my best friend. She is the one that knows me better than anyone else does. She understands where I am coming from, where I want to go and how I want to get there. She always knows just what to say when I am hurting or sad and just when to laugh when I am telling one of my poorly delivered jokes. I know many people will say, "Whitney, it's just for a semester," and "you have other friends." I know this and I don't deny it in any way, I have many other friends whom I love and adore, but really in any friendship there is no one that can just replace your best friend--not even another wonderful friend.
I know that Tay and I will always be friends, our friendship does not hang in the balance because she is simply a million miles away and almost unreachable. She will be back at Christmas and life will be like it was. No, I am not lamenting a lost friendship here. I am lamenting an easily accessible friend--lost for the time being, leaving me a little lonelier than I was once before.
2 comments:
It's always hard to be seperated from friends. Taylor is an amazing girl and I know how close you two are. I know this isn't much of a consolation, but I just hope you know that when you're bored on your way home from work, or when something funny happens, you can always call me. Because I love you
Love of my life, I miss you more than words can say. This is the first time I have been able to read your blog, and I love it. Our friendship has been such an incredible blessing in my life, and I will never be able to express how much you mean to me. I hate that we can't talk all the time now, too, and I promise I will be better about emailing whenever I can. Because it causes me physical pain to be separated from you. I love you, sweetie. Hang in there with the busy schedule. You are doing a wonderful juggling job, and you will get through it with flying colors. I wish I was able to be there, to give you a huge hug, bring you coffee when you need it, watch a movie, or simply let you vent about all this stress. But I hope you can feel me sending you ALL my love and encouragement. You are amazing.
to the moon and back,
Tay
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