Dear Squad,
I knew from the second I met you that you were no ordinary group of people. You laughed at my jokes and I laughed at yours. You captured my heart and from the very beginning, I knew there was no one in the world who understood me quite like you. You understand my insecurities, you reassure me on my worst days. You never judge me.
Maybe it was Kelly's ability to brighten any day or Lauren's goofy sense of humor. Maybe it was Olivia's willingness to do homework with me and to make puny jokes that are too good or Katie's ability to devise plans and adventures that naturally get me outside of my comfort zone. Or maybe it was the fact that Kristin cries over anything and everything (one time she cried at a football game) I can almost guarantee if tears haven't been shed yet they will be by the end. These are some of the safe things that make you comfortable.
A lot of days I wonder how I got so lucky to have you as my people. The ones who I can count on for everything and anything at all hours of any day. You're like my family. I miss you desperately when you're not around. Sometimes, I remember that living with you was an accident. But then I catch myself, how could this possibly be an accident? Maybe the best things are the things that are unexpected. You were unexpected and I love you.
That first month, we tried so hard to come up with a name for our little group but for some reason, we couldn't. We just landed on squad. Sometimes I get a little bit overwhelmed by how gracious you are toward me. How you love me on your best days and my worst days. There is no one else I would want to hold me when I'm upset or cheer me on when I'm in hard situations. One time I showed up crying and apologized. Someone said, "I didn't just sign up to see you on your good days, I signed up to see you during your messy times too."
Our crazy, random adventures are the things that I look forward to every day. We've done so much. Not seeing you for a day constitutes telling you that I missed you. Because I did. No one was there to tell me I was funny, or awkward, or to "shh", making my day a little bit less complete.
Doing anything from eating to working out to Wal-Mart trips feel weird without you guys. It only takes one of you and it is honestly the best thing. I can't imagine being at school without having you by my side all the time.
I love our movie nights, bible studies, coffee dates; all of it. I love planning our non-existent weddings and talking about the road trips we want to take. I love our game nights, our grocery shopping trips, and that we have a mutual appreciation and love of caffeine. I love that we have inside jokes and that we can call each other out. I love that you're the five people I can be the most honest with.
There's not a single thing about you incredible people that I wish I could change. I don't think I could handle not having you around anymore. Luckily, I probably won't ever have to. You're the sisters I never knew I wanted, and I'm thankful for that all the time.
No one told me that five people I met at the beginning of my sophomore year would be the people I couldn't live without. I love you all so much. You all make my life, my day, and every day.
One day, sooner than we'd probably like to acknowledge we won't live so close to each other anymore, but that's okay. I have no doubt that you weirdos aren't going anywhere. You might not be five feet away from me. But I know that you're only a phone call away and that makes the thought of not seeing you every day a little bit better.
I didn't anticipate loving and living our sophomore year with people quite as cool as you all. You're my rays of sunshine and I love you more than a cup of coffee. You are my favorite humans, so thank you; thank you for loving and living with me.
Love, g
