Some people are lucky enough to be born with a sister that is their best friend. Not us. My very dearest friend and I both were born into families where we are the only girls. I think of her as the sister of my heart.
We met in sixth grade (oh man, 25 years ago- yikes), and were natural rivals. I was quiet, shy and afraid of my own shadow. She was loud, outspoken and exhuberant.
We were destined to be friends. Not until we both became friends with the same girls in a crowd did we learn to tolerate each other. At some point, we realized we actually liked each other.
My friend knows me better than most people in my life- and certainly longer. We have such an honest, no worries, I-got-your-back kind of relationship. It's never about who called last, how much time has past or who is doing what in life. We share humor, love of family, similar backgrounds and similar values (although never political beliefs~ I still can't believe she doesn't see it my way! :) ...
We share religion. We share a few friends still in common. We share caring about each other. We laugh. We've cried- but we both like laughing more. We share having the kind of honesty that we don't ever have to worry about editting what we say to each other. We just say it. If it comes out wrong, we laugh. If someone's feelings get hurt, we just say that- and then apologize- and then it's done.
Our friendship is one of my greatest treasures.
She scares the hell out of me, because she keeps having these funky medical problems that flirt with life and death. She goes in for yet another surgery today. It kills me that she'll be far away and I won't be able to see her in person afterward. I know she's going to be fine, because every three years or so she goes into a fresh, freakish medical crisis just to scare the crap out of all of us. It's just her thing.
My life has so much more, well, life with her in it. I wouldn't be me without her.
I don't mean to drag drama into this. I just mean to say I love my sister friend. I'm feeling especially sentimental and figured I'd write out how I feel. maybe I'll print this out for her.
Of course, she'll tease me mercilessly.
But, she knows I'm overly sentimental. And although she'd never admit it- she'd like it, too.
The bracelet is a silver bangle I bought when she scared me but good last time. i bought one for her in gold. I told her that even though I couldn't be with her in person every day, (she had to go and move up north!) she'd know I was wearing mine and that I'd be thinking of her. The Claddaugh is an Irish tradition- to give to someone you love that is separated from you. The hands represent friendship, the crown is for loyalty, and the heart is for love. Since we're both Irish (and hey, even if she wan't) it's just so fitting. So today I'll be wearing my Claddaugh.
17 comments:
Thank you for sharing such an awsome person with us! Your story brought a tear to my eye. I really like how you put the claddaugh on the (I think) towel. It was a great way to get a really good picture. TFS
Great shot and what an incredible tribute to your friend! She sounds amazing! I'm definitely praying that her surgery goes well and that she has a speedy recovery!
What a beautiful story. You are lucky to have someone so special in your life.
I love the photo and the bracelet is beautiful.
what a sweet story-thanks for sharing. i'll be praying for your friend to have a successful surgery. great photo of your bracelet...what a keepsake.
I loved reading every word this morning...such a beautiful tribute to your friend. If we could all be so lucky to have one like that.
Like you focus on the bangle and I love silver, so I laughed when you said you got her one in gold...obviously you kept the silver for whatever reason.
I enjoy your blog. Tomorrow I'm getting a cup of joe before sitting down to read...it's better than the book i'm reading now...keep it coming (pretty please!!)
What a wonderful story. I just loved reading it. Being an only girl I wanted a sister so badly. You are so lucky to have found such a great sister friend to keep up with your entire life.
Aw, Sara, what a beautiful tribute to your best friend! I enjoyed reading it. It's wonderful that God sent you a sister at such a young age that you have loved all these years! Yea for you, and I'm saying a prayer for her surgery today and for her freakish medical issues that keep you on the edge of your seat! lol!!!!!!
Oh Sara, this is beautiful, the pic and the story. You've made me a bit teary. I love all t your jewelry shots and the special meaning they have to you. I real insight into who you are.
I'm loving the way you are displaying your jewelry. Very nice! Beautiful piece and nice journaling!
Friendships like this one are rare. Cherish it, as you obviously do! You are blessed to have such a dear friend.
Your photo display is beautiful.
Beautiful - I actually cried. What a wonderful relationship. I will say a prayer for your friend.
You are so blessed to have found a friendship like this. I am still looking! I love the sentimentality (it's just fine to be sentimental sometimes!). And it's a beautiful photo representative of your special friendship! I love everything about this entry.
It's great that you're capturing these items. I need to take some out and do that as well. Beautiful.
What beautiful journaling about your friend. It sounds like the two of you have a truly unique and special relationship.
Thank you everyone for your kind words and all the prayers. I just got off the phone with her and she's doing fantastically (is that a word??)! Big sighs of relief.
It made me feel so good to read your responses. Thank you! I appreciate having a place to write this all down and put it somewhere. I am thankful for your response to my sentiment.
Thanks Sara for sharing a bit of your life. It is truly a gift when we find a special person in our lives that we can confide in. I'm glad you've got someone and that you treasure your relationship with her. Glad to hear that everything turned out OK with her today. I read your post earlier at school but wasn't able to comment (we're blocked) until now. Your journaling was amazing. It defnitely merits a scrapbook page. Gosh, you might even make an entire album of your friendship with her (maybe you already have one).
OT - I'm also glad to be back. I'm gonna try and keep posting as much as I can.
BTW - I love the detail that you were able to capture in your picture. Good job.
Great photo, and it sounds like you've found a great gem in your friendship. I often joke that I have 2 soulmates, my husband and my good girlfriend.
On somedays I don't know if I had to choose which one I would pick. Especially if DH is not being so Dear. LOL
Great job and story!
Post a Comment