I'm a firm believer that people come into your life exactly when you need them to help you grow and become the person you were meant to be. During our lives we'll have different kinds of relationships with all types of people. Some will be in our lives for only fleeting moments and others will stay forever. Each relationship helps you discover who you are. One of the most special relationships, however, is with your childhood best friend, and for those of us who have this person in our lives it's easy to understand why this person is so special.
I met my best friend at kindergarten registration. I was a typical only child in the sense that I was terrified of other humans. I was used to being alone with my parents and I liked it that way. And then you quite literally forced yourself into my life. You took my hand, dragged me away from my mom and said, "Hi, My name's Rachel. We're going to be friends. Let's go play." We were inseparable after that.
More than anything I'd like to thank you for picking me that day. Not only did I gain a best friend, I got a second family. Your mom and dad treated me like one of their own. They gave me lectures and praise and I gained so many valuable life lessons just by being around them. If I could describe your family in one word it would be "fearless." You all know what you want and you go for it. I'd like to think that I gained a little bit of that by being a semi-Sieg.
Thank you for being semi-Harrison. Not only did I get your family, but, for better or worse, you got mine. My mom considers you a daughter, you called my grandparents "grandma" and "grandpa" and you know any man you bring around has to pass inspection by my entire family if he stands any chance. To this day, when I get together for family dinner with my aunts, uncles and cousins, they always ask about you. No matter what, you have my family and I have yours.
Thank you for sticking around through my awkward years. That goth phase was truly awful and I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry for all the weeks you weren't my number one on Myspace. That's probably my biggest regret of our friendship. Not that you were perfect –– I still can't believe we remained friends through your pilgrim-dressing phase. That was embarrassing, so you're welcome for that. Better yet, let's forget middle school happened. Deal?
Thank you for being there when my grandma passed away. You were the only friend who knew what she meant to me, because she was your grandma too. You knew her before she was sick and your family helped us take care of her when the cancer consumed her. I love you so much for that.
When we went away to college I had the melodramatic thought that our friendship was over. We would be too far away, we wouldn't see each other every day and our friendship would fade like so many others do. But I was wrong. You can't lose a sister. We may not see each other very often or talk every day, but when we do it's like we were never apart.
Thank you for finding a terrified little girl and making her brave. Thank you for being my family.
