We are friends for life...

“We are friends for life. When we’re together the years fall away. Isn’t that what matters? To have someone who can remember with you? To have someone who remembers how far you’ve come?” 

                                                                                             ~ Judy Blume

{2003}

 “A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” 

 ~Shakespeare

{2013}

If I were to go back in time and revisit any point in my past, it would be the four years I spent at the Holy Cross. As with most things, I didn't realize how wonderful it was until it was almost over. Now, looking back, I can't believe how good I had it. Aside from an awkward few months of hawking underpants at the Victoria's Secret in the Auburn Mall, learning was my only job. All I had to do was read and write and have interesting conversations with smart people. And between all of the reading, writing, and discussing, there was plenty of time for shenanigans. It was amazing.   

Point is - I loved college for many, many reasons, but more than anything, I loved it because it is when I got to know Brandy Ault, Lauren Bourque, and Kelsey Scott. It has been fourteen (gulp!) years since I first met them; since then, everything has changed and everything is the same. These women  have truly seen me at my best and at my worst. They saw me become who I am. In fact, I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be who I am if we hadn't spent those four years together, trying to figure ourselves out. I'm so incredibly grateful to have had them in my life then, but I'm even luckier to have them in my life now.

Last month, we got together in Sonoma for a little wine tasting and a lot of chatting and laughing. It was the best. The best.  I only wish that it didn't take months of planning and a bunch of plane rides to make it happen. 
  
We celebrated Kelsey's birthday, albeit much differently than we did back in the day because she's pregnant. Also, we're old.

{In the ten years since college, fancy cakes have replaced 30-packs of Busch Light as birthday party staples. Thank God.}

So, yeah, everything is different.

 

And yet. Everything is the same.

I am the luckiest.