Old Friends are the Best

I am blessed. In so many ways I can't even keep track. I lose sight of this often. Today was a great day. I got together with an old friend. We have known each other almost 30 years. We raised kids together, laughter together, cried together, supported each other in times of sorrow and loss, celebrated each other in life's triumphs. 

I first met Jill when we worked together at State Farm. Who could have know this friendship would remain strong and constant through all the years and moves and miles. When she first moved away, to CO, I thought this friendship was done. Somehow, through God's guidance I know, we stayed in touch and even visited each other. For me, this was a first. She was my first real non-hometown friend. I was fortunate to have her move to my hometown for a period of time. Now I know she would not say this was fortunate to her, but it was life saving to me. Again, God played a hand. It was a time I would not have made it through without her. Even as she moved on to Omaha, and eventually back to CO, and I to IA and MN, we remained connected. 

There were numerous moves and life altering events through these 30 years, but we have kept reconnecting. Each time it's like a day hasn't gone by, we don't miss a beat, we're remembering old times and making new memories. Today was particularly surreal. Visiting my daughter, whom Jill has known since birth, and introducing her to my granddaughter, has brought a new chapter to our story. We are women who raised children at the same time, took care of each other's kids, and now we are starting the grandparent stage (or at least I am, I always did the kid thing first I guess). It's wonderful!

She sees me like no one else, because she knows me like no one else. We met at young adults, with big ambitions for life and family and careers. Through our thirties we shared of our kids grow up and shared our stories through the miles. Now our kids are all grown and we compare our hopes and dreams for them. And through all that we've watched each other grow and changed, survive tough times, cried on each other's shoulders, through the phone many times, and celebrated when we came out on the other side better than when we went in. 

She doesn't know this, but I admire her strength, her faith, her wisdom and her visionary outlook into what the future could be, always.  Where I am weak, she picks me up, carries me for a period, then helps me walk on my own again. Where I am strong, she supports and encourages me to be even stronger. I wish I had her strength. We love each other's children like they are our own. Our story will never be over. When we pass on to a better place, I have no doubt we will find each other at the pearly gates. Whoever goes first will be waiting for the other with open arms and a "What took you so long? I have so much to tell you!"

We are family. Not by blood. Not by marriage. By choice.