that's the great thing about old friends

As I mentioned in my previous post, my best friend and I watched the same movie, at the same time, from two different states.  The funniest thing about that is that we didn't plan it.  At.  All.

But that's the great thing about old friends.  Somehow, you just know.  When to call.  When to text.  When to watch the same movie.    

I miss my best friend.  Although, in the last couple of months, I've wondered whether I just call her that out of habit or because she's the person I've known the longest (aside from family members).  But while I watched Something Borrowed, I thought, no, she's my best friend.  And I call her that because she just is.  I love her so much it hurts sometimes.  And I guess, that's why the last time we saw each other, it really upset me because I saw how unhappy she looked, and there was nothing I could do about it.  And she didn't want me to do anything about it.  She didn't seem to even want me around.  And what made things worst was that I was happy.  The happiest I had been in months.  And if there was anyone I wanted to share that with, it was her.  But I couldn't.  She was just unhappy and angry with life.  And it broke my heart.      

We haven't seen each other since then (more than six months ago).  And have probably only spoken a handful of times, and texted for another handful - 95% of the time initiated by me.  So, when she texted me on Saturday to tell me she thought of me, it almost made me cry.  And when she texted me today about the movie, I realized how much I want my best friend back.  And how much I just want my best friend to be happy.

I do believe that we have several soul mates in our lives.  And when we finally meet them, the moment we look into each other's eyes, smile, and shake hands, it seals our lifelong connection.  No matter the distance.  No matter the time.  And no matter the heartaches we cause each other.     

I met my best friend when I was eight years old.  (At that time, I had no idea that she would be my first soul mate.)  She sat next to me on the first day of class, introduced herself, and asked if we could be friends.  Forever.  And now, many many many years later, I know that we will. 

Our friendship have survived a lot of immaturity, heartache, and distance.  We've grown together.  And separately.  The last six months is just one of those separate growth periods.  But I'm going to see her in a couple of weeks.  And although I'm a little nervous, I'm really excited, too.   I asked her for at least one day.  Just me and her.  Like old times.  No husband.  No other friends.  Just me and her.  Her and me.  

We used to say to each, friends through thick and thin, and friends through sick and sin.  We've definitely done that.  We will grow old together like we planned as little girls.  Old women, living next door to each other, at our homes in the suburbs (which I think is the detail she added since I've always loved the big city).  When she moved to Phoenix from New York she reminded me of that plan, and reminded me that for some crazy reason, we talked about living next door to each other in a suburb - in the desert.  But I think that was a Waiting to Exhale influence that she added years after the initial plan.  Or a part of her ploy to convince me to move closer to her.

Oh, how I miss her!  

Photo: ashappyaskings