The Thing About Friends

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley

I had the privilege of having my best friend from high school, Annie, visit me this past weekend. I am embarrassed to say that we haven't had one on one time for about seven years or even longer. I have been married for almost 6 years and she for almost 4. We have always lived in different places, but I still am sad that we haven't found more quality time to spend together.

There's something so comfortable about an old friend. Like a favorite pair of old shoes, you love the way they fit you and you remember all the places they've taken you. Annie is just like that. I just adore the fact that I can say or behave any way around her and it doesn't matter because she really knows who I am deep down inside. I love that we can still walk around in our underwear and not care. I love that we can enjoy hours of conversation about things we've done together and the things that occupy us now. She is such a breath of fresh air to me and a reminder of the best times in the past.

There's also something strange about an old friend. It's almost like you want to go back but at the same time are glad to have moved forward. Annie is a huge reminder of the person I was and how far I've come. She also is a huge part of the path that brought me to where I am, and for that I am so thankful. Still, there's this strange but satisfying gap between us knowing that we grew together for so long and still have managed to stay true to ourselves individually.

There's also this strange realization that multiple someone's have filled those best friend shoes at different times in my life and the same is true for her. It's even more strange to think that some of my best friends don't even know my best friends! Still, I am glad to have the best friend I have now and plan on keeping him for a long while.

True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable. ~Dave Tyson Gentry