We went from being a short drive away to being 1,122 miles apart, yet when we both come home, it feels like nothing has changed. So here's a public thank you to her for maintaining a long distance friendship, and how we succeeded for anyone who's going to go through the same thing.
1. Constant communication. Whether it's our Snapchat streak, sending memes on Instagram, texting, or our beloved FaceTime dates, we are always in touch with each other. Although we have new friends, new lives, relationships and school, we manage to keep each other in the loop. She's still the first person I tell when I meet a guy, land a role, or manage to get a good grade on something we both could've swore I failed. And that goes both ways.
2. Make plans for the future. We always talk about things we want to do with each other the next time we're on break. For winter break we made the best friend winter bucket list. Even though we didn't necessarily accomplish everything, it gave us stuff to do, and made us even more excited to see each other. You can do the same thing for summer; plan pool days, shopping trips, sleepovers, anything to keep you guys motivated to get through the next semester, and to see your BFF.
3. Keep traditions alive. For us, we have our infamous Cheesecake Factory dates. Every time we have time off together, catch us at your local CF. Or, on the other side of things, surprise each other. Keep them guessing the entire car ride, and actually just wind up at a different Cheesecake Factory that's a farther drive away. You'll be laughing the entire time, especially when the other one realizes what's going on and calls you out. It's still a great story to tell later, and makes for the best memories.
4. Last, but certainly not least, always remind her how much you love and miss her. There's nothing better than a text that says, "Hey I saw this today and thought of you", or "I just wanted to remind you how much I love you". There will be times you go a few days without really talking. You'll get a good morning snap, and share a pic or two, but you're both still busy with your new lives. You can't always sit down and FaceTime, but when you do, make the best of every minute. Keep her pic as your lock screen, and hang your polaroids around your dorm. She'll always be in your heart, and there for you at the end of the day.
To my best friend, thank you for making this long distance thing seem so easy. I'm so glad you're enjoying life in college, but I can not wait to see you again. I love you.
"There are few friendships imprinted in our hearts that will never be diminished by time or distance." -Dodinsky
