Kelly is my best friend from childhood. We grew up together. It was actually more like a sisterhood since my mom watched her every day after school. She was a grade behind me but she was like my older sister, always watching out for me and scolding me when I was out of line. Kelly was always the mature one, who held down jobs for years (even in high school) and got great grades. More than anything, she was the one person who I knew would always love me. We were in the same group of friends, and no matter what drama ensued (high school girls, you know), Kelly and I were always close.
So why did I pick tonight to randomly tell you about her? Because I just watched the movie Lady Bird. You guys, it's so good. There's nothing directly special about it, except that it depicts the ordinary coming of age experience of a woman very accurately. It's gloriously nostalgic and humorous. There is a scene where the main girl and her best friend are at prom together and it made me think of Kelly and I at my last prom- she was a junior and I was a senior. We had been to so many dances together and at the end she looked at me and said "this is it... our last song of our last dance..." and we both started bawling. Such great memories. There are so, so many. Happy ones, sad ones, exciting ones, dull ones, hilarious ones, scary ones, angry ones... are there any other emotions? We've been friends for twenty-two years- through the beginning of periods, boyfriends, mutual friendships, engagements, marriages, children, spiritual awakenings, divorce, breakups, and just... life. We've been through a lot of life together. And this is what I think: not everybody has a friendship like that.
My friendship with Kelly has helped mold the person I am today. In her I have what, in some ineffable way, is a special kind of sister, but different. She has always been there, and will always be there. She knows me deeply and loves me despite my flaws and the embarrassing things she knows about me. I am at ease with her no matter the distance, time or personal change that's taken place. And it's all by choice- we weren't born into the same family and yet, we are family.
Kelly's baby shower.
My wedding.
Meeting her daughter, Grace, for the first time.
Awkward high school dance. :D
Our babies. #arrangedmarriage
This most recent picture was taken last October at a writing conference we attended together. Such an amazing time!
We've been friends for so long and it's always been so natural and normal that in everyday life I don't give it much thought- it just is what it's always been. But when I pull back and look at the big picture of my life, our friendship is like a visible road on a map, a main highway that stays labeled no matter how far you zoom out and is connected to all the vital roads. It's a mainstay.
My friendship with Kelly is one of the great elements of the story that is my life. I'm so grateful for her!
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