I made a friend about eight years ago.
We were young, in the beginning stages of our teenage selves. We met in a program our middle school had for students who, weren't bringing in those straight A's but also weren't flunking out, but were "average". Which is so ironic because she is anything but average.
She was always doodling or jotting words down on a piece of paper. I swear, it seemed like her favorite thing to do in school was take notes. The way she took notes was just so different from anyone else. I feel like it had to do something with the fact that there was something so standard and mediocre, such as history notes, in front of her and she took on the challenge of making them beautiful. Which she succeeded at time and time again. (Spoiler alert this was a foreshadow for her life. Everything she touches turns to gold, I swear.)
She had so many colored pens. So many. She was very much in love with swim and singing and music. She had a lot of passion and drive for those things, but writing, writing always had a special place in her heart and soul.
She was always so calm. Always. That's what I would see when she'd walk in a room. There was always this ora she had that was bright, so bright, warm, welcoming and calm. No matter what day it was, what the weather was, she was always just so calm.
She also always wore sweatshirts from different colleges or places she had been to no matter what the weather. And how can I forget her signature, curly, top knot, messy bun.
She was just so care free, always. That was what I admired most about her, and why I was so drawn to her. She was just her own person from such a young age, she just knew who she was. Even if she she was unsure of herself or something in her life, she was confident in her emotions, and that to me was the most beautiful thing.
When you are young, I feel like everyone knows who everyone's friends are and knows who everyone's "group" is. She had a small group of friends, but when I would talk to her or have class with her I did not tie her to anyone. I just saw her as herself.
I feel like that came from the fact that she was bit more to herself and she was okay with being on her own. She was so connected with herself it seemed and so spiritually connected with the people around her. She carried herself with such grace. She made everything seem "okay", but I could see there was a certain fight in her eyes. There was something about her, something she had to be strong for, someone she had to be strong for. I don't know what it was but something made her strong. Maybe she was born with her strength, the world may never know her secret. I just know that she was and still is a fighter.
One day she came up to me in the locker room, and I could see that something was on her mind. She tells me that she has a choice to make, to go to the local high school or a private high school that she had tested into.
I told her to go where she sees herself being the happiest.
I went to our local high school and we lost touch, going to different schools at a young age will do that to some friendships.
But I thought about her very frequently and kept her in my prayers always. I wasn't sure if we'd ever see each other or talk again but I always wished her the best.
She was in my life for such a short time but she has made such an impact on me and made me feel like I was special. She took the time to get to know me, listen to me, walk with me to class and run the mile with me in physical education because I am awful at running and was always last.
When middle school ended she wrote me a letter. I was sitting right next to her in our history class as she wrote this beautiful, uplifting letter to me and then handed it to me with this warm smile and then leaves for her next class as if it were a handshake or a high five.
But that's just Christy.
She just does nice things and makes you feel special just because she wants to.
She does things in a way that may be out of the ordinary or messy or strange, but her bigger picture is the greatest masterpiece someone could witness in their life time.
She is a perfect example of a genuine human being and will forever be an inspiration to me.
I hadn't heard from her in a couple years. We'd see each other in town every once in a while but not long enough to catch up.
And then she found me on Instagram and told me she was the Editor in Chief (which did not take me by surprise because she is a wicked talented author) for a social media platform called "Odyssey" and asked me to create for her team.
If I said I was honored, that would be an understatement.
We hadn't talked in so long, and somehow she found a way to make my life more beautiful.
The thing is, beautiful souls tend to be messy, oozing their beauty into other people's worlds and such.
I am so grateful for my friend, Christy McCarthy.
You are a blessing to this universe and an angel walking on earth.
May the world be as beautiful to you as you are to others.
I love you and thank you for everything.
