Moving can be difficult as a kid, no matter what age you are. You build your life around the familiar environment around you, and then one day you wake up and your told everything is going to change. In second grade, it was no different. I was moving to a new town and starting a new school, and even at such a young age, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried.
When my parents finally picked a house, they took my brother and me with them to see it, while they finished some paperwork. When we pulled up, a group of kids were outside in the driveway riding their bikes and scooters. I was not exactly one to go right up and make friends right away, so I stood outside the house and quietly talked to my brother.
Suddenly, this short awkward girl with a loud voice came over to us and offered us peanut M&M's. This was when I knew everything would be OK. Little did I know at that time, this girl would be my best friend for the next 16 years and counting.
Most people would find it challenging to fit nine cars in a shared driveway, but our families have always made it work. I will forever cherish our dads making wine together in the backyard, our summer sleepovers when we stayed at each other's houses every night, and all of our family vacations.
While I know we are older and we won't always be living right next door to each other, I will always remember living 15 steps away from my best friend.
