Of all the words we’ve shared, of all the stories, laughs, thoughts, memories, and Chinese food… for some reason, I still find it hard to say how grateful I am for having a friend like you.

Since the moment you popped into my life on orientation day with the happy-go-lucky introduction of your name, you changed it. You’ve made it vibrant and adventurous. You’ve made it necessary.

To have a friend like you is great for SO many reasons. For scary movie Fridays, 1 am egg and avocado sandwiches, piggy back rides in 20 degree Boston winters… For all the times you’ve endured my ranting, our counter-productive arguments, and the nights we may or may not remember.

You’re the other half of my brain when mine can’t seem to do its thing, and more specifically my memory since I clearly forget 75% of everything. Thank you for that.

Thank you for knowing that quesadillas cure my migraines, as well as an entire list of songs that can make me dance in the most embarrassing ways. You creepily share my literal dreams at night, and although I don’t know what superstitious meaning that entails, thank you for that too.

Thank you for the times you watched me cry, either from heartbreak or intoxicated emotions… and thank you for helping me through each of those situations, because only God knows how they would have ended up without you.

Thank you for letting me teach you new things, for capturing my most flattering facial expressions of in all your photos, and also for not dying the day you almost fell 20 feet out of a tree while doing so.

Thank you for all your paranormal stories even though you know how much I hate them, telling me the truth I don’t want to hear, and for being stubborn even when I don’t want you to be.

No matter how many times I get mad, it’s hard to stay that way with a friend like you. You’re loyal and caring, and I’ll always be eternally grateful for that. You may not understand all my emotions, but you understand the essence of my soul… you always tell me not to assume things, but I’m going to assume that doesn’t happen to people very often.

You keep me grounded, remind me who I am, and who I want to be. Even when I don't act like it, I'm appreciative of EVERYTHING you do. Also, I find it crazy how many stimuli that my brain immediately connects to you. Green monster ice cream, poutine, rice, tea… however, I’m not so surprised they’re all foods.

I’m so blessed for your presence in my life, and all the things you brought into it that I didn’t know existed. After three years of sharing almost everything short of a toothbrush, your presence is basically required.