Best friends!

I wanted to blog about friendship. Rarely in life, does a person find a good, true friend that sticks with you through lifes ups and downs. I have been fortunate to find such a friend.

I met Vicki in high school. I first saw her when I was a freshman and she was a sophmore. We were in the hallway and she was at her locker. She had this perfectly curled hair that was down to her butt. I told her, "you have the prettiest hair". She looked at me like I was nuts. It would be another year before we would meet again.

Fast forward one year later... my friend LeeAnne told me that Vicki had accused me of stealing her diamond ring. Umm, excuse me? I don't think so. Although I later learned that we have a diamond ring that is almost exactly alike. So one day after LeeAnne made this revelation, Vicki came and sat at our lunch table out of the blue. I thought, "why would she sit with us if she really thought I stole her ring?" And our friendship began. We still laugh about that ring comment to this day because of course, Vicki never accused me of anything. We went to Gatlinburg on a school trip. Then we went to Florida by ourselves. That trip is a whole other blog entry.

We have always had this sisterly connection. And being an only child, I believe Vicki is like my sister. The greatest thing about our friendship is that it has survived A LOT! Boyfriends, Chicago, children, jobs, you name it and we're there. I think the thing though that I love the most is that even though Vicki has chosen to not have children, she loves mine like they are her own. She is kind and patient and protective of them. She is always willing to take them on nausea-inducing rides so that I can be spared.

She makes special trips to come and see their first dance recital and brings them flowers.

She drives to our house just so she can help us hunt for a Christmas tree and be a part of our family. The children love her and call her "Aunt Vicki". And what I really think is cute is the other day, Leah said to me, "I think I'm going to be like Aunt Vicki because I really love animals". And it's true! That child loves all animals and is fascinated by them. I hope she does grow up to be like Aunt Vicki.

I can't imagine a better friend. I know no matter what life throws us, our friendship will continue to grow and evolve.

"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost." - Charles Caleb Colton