During our lives, we meet many temporary friends. Part of this is due to various circumstances (good or bad) that cause us to drift apart. The other part is simply due to growing up. However, some of us are lucky enough to have those few friends who have, and will always be there.
Most of us remember our first best friend. Whether it was because your parents were friends so you automatically became close, or whether you just clicked from the very beginning. This childhood friendship was and should always be something special to you.
If you're anything like me, my first best friend is still my best buddy. Having a childhood best friend that stays with you into your adult years is such a blessing. This friendship is uniquely different than any of your other friendships for a few reasons:
1. Technology did not exist.
In a world full of social media and instantaneous communication, remaining friends has been made easy. But, back when social media didn’t exist the way it does today and cell phones were considered a luxury, the effort it took to communicate was serious business. Whether you coordinated times to instant message each other or waited until your mom said you could use the landline to call your BFF, you were dedicated to talking everyday after school. There were no cell phones to capture every moment. Instead, pictures came from good old fashioned disposable cameras and filled scrap books. There’s no creeping back into Facebook albums because your pictures and goofy memories actually take up physical closet space. (And considering the amount of clothes I own, that's true love).
2. Your friendship is the constant in a world full of surprises.
Think about how much has changed since you were a little kid. You look different, you act different, you have different interests and you have different friends. Throughout it all, your childhood best friend has been there. You two may have clicked when you were little because you liked the same things, but now, you may be completely different individuals. Although you may both be growing in separate directions, your roots will always be tangled.
3. The “remember when’s.”
I think these are personally my favorite part about having a childhood best friend. Play dates organized by your moms, deciding who was who when playing “house,” swapping out American Girl doll clothes, playing MASH, doing makeovers for hours (even plucking eyebrows to the point of no return), taking endless webcam photo shoots, birthday parties, field trips, boys, sports, embarrassing moments, high school gossip, college parties and milestones, and now the real world. I hope you and your childhood best friend hold these memories close, laugh about them when you’re together, and continue to make more “remember when’s” in the future. I promise you, the shenanigans you both encountered together will never get old. And let’s get real, your best friend never left you when you had that awkward stage of straight across bangs, braces, and turtlenecks.
4. You understand their journey better than anyone else.
You’ve been friends before the drama of life and relationships even began. You know each other’s story better than anyone else because you've essentially helped write it. You’ve witnessed all of each other’s joys and all of each other’s hurts. You’ve been there for all of each other’s firsts, and I hope you plan there to be there for all of the lasts. Sure, there have been times when both of your journeys did not end up on the same path. You may have traveled separately for a while, but you always found your way back.
5. You can pick up right where you left off.
When you were younger, you didn’t realize you were making memories with each other. You probably just thought you were having fun with each other. But, looking back, I hope you realize you formed a bond that can never be broken. This bond transcends all other friendships you will make in your life. You can go weeks, months, and sometimes even years without seeing each other. But, I bet the joy that fills your heart and the laughter that fills the air around you is still the same joy and laughter that you had when you were five years old dancing to your favorite song in the living room.
So thank you, best friend. Thank you for walking beside me all these years and being my friend. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know. Even when your friendship was a quiet presence in my life, I knew you were there. It takes a long time to grow an old friend and I'm so thankful it's been you for all these years.
