Dear AJ,
Going back to college for my sophomore year was expected. What I was not prepared for was missing you to the extent I do, and being reminded daily of our quirks and inside jokes. When watching other coupled best friends on campus, I catch myself thinking about how much it stinks that I have to be separated from you.
1. I will be walking to class and see a girl with light-brown, frizzy hair walking in the same direction as I, and I will get extremely excited for about two seconds, until she turns to face me, and gives me a disturbing look in reaction to me smiling like an idiot.
2. I miss that your laugh alone would be enough to make me laugh, and you laugh pretty easily so ... there's a strong reason why we giggle so much.
3. Getting ready together for a night out almost always led to mixing and matching our resembling wardrobes that just so happen to be similar sizes. As far as I am concerned, it was a sign from God that we were destined to be friends and look mighty fine at the same time. If I ever had an outfit I liked, but felt that it lacked a statement piece, you always came through in the clutch.
4. We shared pets as far as your dog being comfortable enough to steal my clothes off the counter to take outside as his new chew toy. I thought our pet ratio worked out well. When I needed to get my dog fix out of the way, I could come over, and same to you when wanting to cuddle a cat (although it may be against their will).
5. Visiting each other at work was a small surprise that always made the day go by faster. You made dealing with small children less stressful, and the kids would always ask if my "sister" was coming back the next day. I loved visiting you at work to see your smiling face, but honestly, you just make really good milkshakes, and it was awesome to gossip, and make plans for the few minutes you took my order.
6. Later that night, we could be at a variety of places, and you were always my go-to cup holder when I had to pee. I trusted you with my drink, which is practically my life, and nobody every drugged me when you held my cup; therefore, you deserve a golden medal.
7. Meeting up at Froyo to fill our bowls with an assortment of frozen yogurts and sweet toppings was a great way to satisfy a craving, and then later complain that we don't go to the gym enough to balance out our dietary habits.
8. Taking pictures is no worry with you. Whether we look like homeless bums or foxy ladies, our smiles always show how happy we are to be living life in good company ... and no judgment on how we present ourselves.
9. Random adventures to search out food, head-bang at local "concerts," or screaming at a Seattle Sounders game, you were my go-to because we supported each other in being spontaneous, and vowing to never live a boring life.
10. When we played fugitive, I was scared for my life at times, but my stomach was always sore the next day from laughing at you attempting to maneuver around town in your bulky car, and being frustrated when players weren't being fair when you called them out.
11. Evenings spent crafting anything we found on Pinterest were always a great way to spend the day, getting into everything from glue to Sharpies to your dad's power tools. We executed our crafts with perfection ... our level of perfection anyway.
12. We seem to share opinions on select individuals we deemed less than worthy of our affection and friendship, and our rants were priceless ... it's a shame we didn't get them on the Internet.
13. A combination of you and an inner tube will be the death of me. While I am being tossed around in every direction with tears in my eyes, you are always giving the driver a thumbs up, saying, "Go faster!" ... I guess that rightfully earns you the title of the daredevil in this relationship.
14. The fact that we both have brothers we don't entirely understand is a struggle we can face together.
15. We bond over watching semi-racist comedians neither of us really approves of, but it's funny, so we don't turn it off.
Now, I see your Snapchat stories with all your cool peeps, hanging out on the weekends, and I get jealous that I can't be one of them. But, it's OK because I know it will make coming home for breaks and summer that much better, and we can resume our shenanigans with much enthusiasm.
You rock, and I hope you know how much you are appreciated.
Love and miss you much,
- Your bestie across the state
