Sometimes people are put in your life and no matter how far away they are, or no matter how little you see them, you just can’t let them go. I was ever so blessed to find these friends in high school. I can assume that the majority of people reading this will not relate. “I couldn’t wait to get out of that hell hole called high school” you might say. “I don’t talk to anyone from my graduating class anymore, they’re all morons,” you tell your college buddies.
Yeah, that’s not me. I had a great high school experience. Well, at least, I had a great senior year experience that made it hard to leave. Even though I walked out of graduation to “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors, it was not the best day of my life. I was not looking forward to separating from my best friends that I spent seven hours a day with. I was not excited to meet new people and make new friends because the one’s I had were more than enough.
Going to different schools or living in different parts of the country as your best friends is a drag. However, just remember…
It’s not impossible
If you can dream it, you can do it! A lot of people will try to tell you that high school friendships won’t last! That might be true if you don’t put in an effort to be as invested in their lives as possible. It is my hope that these friends are my bridesmaids when I get married in a million years. We refer to each other as our lifelongs — because that is how long we want to be friends, for the rest of our lives!
Getting/sending a letter makes the day better
Every time I open my mailbox and see a pal sent me a letter, it’s like cashing happy checks! Snail mail is fun y’all!
Reunions are the bomb
I remember the first time I saw my friends after we had gone off to college. I legitimately had to hold back tears of joy as I ran to hug them like an overdramatic scene in a Nicholas Sparks movie/novel. Complete reunions don’t happen as often as I wish, but what they lack in quantity, they make up in quality. It’s about a two-hour process to get general life briefings taken care of.
Call me on my cell phone
Never underestimate a good phone/facetime conversation because sometimes group text is a struggle.
It’s a good excuse for a road trip!
“Hey, what are you doing today? Wanna come over?” “Sure! Be there in three hours!” …okay so maybe this hasn’t exactly happened, but it should!
Roots run deep
These friends have loved you through your athletic socks and Sperry’s days. They listened to you talk about Nirvana and Pearl Jam when you went through your grunge phase (Oh was that just me?) before you realized people don’t care about how much you know about the music you listen to. Also, not only are they your best friends but you’re friends with their parents too.
They are legendary
I hope I’m not the only one who does this, but I talk about my hometown friends enough that my other friends know them by name.
It’s ok to be a little jealous
I secretly get a little sad when my friends post pictures having fun with their new friends, but it’s only because I wish I could be there spending time with them.
Quick Catch Up!
Ever so often we will send a list of at least three things going on in our lives at the moment and it’s pretty much the best part of the week.
Things don’t change
If you want them to be, they will always be your friends and you will always be able to talk about “that one time your car broke down four hours away from home” or “that one time you got too 'rambunctious and irresponsible' and broke a dining room table.”
So here’s to the hometown pals, to the forever friends, to the lifelongs, and to the friendships that choose to not be bound by distance. I love y’all and I’ll see y’all soon.
Ps — Something that is unique to the way I write articles is I like to recommend a song that fits with the theme. This week’s song suggestion: "Wildewoman" by Lucius.
