To my friend who lives too far away,

Thank you for blessing me with your presence in my life. In the time that we have known each other, I have come to appreciate your being unlike anyone else on this earth. While doing this, I have a few things to thank you for.

Thank you for the endless laughter. I know for a fact that I will almost die of laughter in every conversation we have. I thrive for the endless group chats filled with roasts, inside jokes, forbidden love, and funny faces. I also thank you for the many screenshot opportunities of your funniest and ugliest faces.

Thank you for talking funny. I appreciate you calling out my "accent" while I call out yours. You have also taught me that saying "bubbler" is weird and uncalled for in every other part of the country that isn't the Midwest.

Thank you for letting me vent. If I come to you about a serious conflict going on in my life, I can always trust you for an unbiased opinion. And if I come to you with exciting news, even if it's just about a test I totally thought I failed but ended up passing, I know you'll always be excited for me.

Thank you for challenging my sport devotions. While arguing that the Packers and Badgers will always be the alpha football teams, you make a pretty good argument for your home teams too. Therefore, I will hang my Terrible Towel, play lacrosse like a Duke, and wear my Sidney Crosby t-shirt with pride because y'all are worth it.

Thank you for giving me a home away from home. I feel blessed and honored that you welcome me into your hometowns and show me what life is like around you. Thank you for showing me around and being my personal tour guide filled with fun stories, historical facts, and general information on the new sights I am seeing.

Thank you for helping me make friends. Thank you for opening up your personal life to me and introducing me to all of your closest friends who have now become friends of my own. It makes me feel more at home when I'm away from my own and makes it even harder for me to leave.

Thank you for giving me something to look forward to. I know that it is only a matter of weeks, months, and possibly years until we see each other again, but in the end, seeing your smiling face in the airport and train station makes it all worth it.

So, thanks a bunch. Although we may not see each other every day or talk to each other as often as we want to, I wouldn't change any of it for the world if it means I get to be friends with you.

Sincerely,

Your friend who lives too far away