Beware, inside jokes ahead:

In the first grade our teacher sat us next to each other because I was the student who never shut-up and you were the student who barely talked. Our teacher hoped that this would cause you to talk more and me to talk less – seems legit, right?

Boy, did we fool her! We instantly clicked and despite her hopes and dreams, we ended up talking even more. Our parents also worked with each other, so we had probably met before, but this class was where it all began, this class gave me a beautiful gift that has lasted over ten years: our friendship.

We read the book, Angel in Blue, and made our teacher cry, something I’ll never forget. Or what about fifth grade buddies? Playing tetherball? And arent’ you the one who married Nick in our game, “Titanic”?

Well we grew up a little and went to big, scary middle school. We weren’t always in the same classes, but that didn’t stop us from our daily notes, gossiping all about “going to the library”, being married as Mark and Julia, calling each other spaghettio sisters (I still don’t remember why we did that), our dinosaur boxers, all of our Youtube videos (especially the one I got in trouble for) and all of our Olsen visits. Quite frankly, this is when we were the weirdest, so the list could go on, but you were the one always by my side when other so-called friends weren’t.

Then we grew up a tiny bit more, and went to high-school. Our schedules became even more different but we still stayed over at each other’s house, eating pizza rolls and watching cheesy Fearnet movies and reading our notes, because yes, we still wrote notes to each other in high school. Not to forget about all the high-school dances and football games. You helped me keep my head straight through all the break-ups and tough classes. I don’t know even want to know how many times you have heard me cry over the span of four years.

I remember the day you told me you were going to go to Central Michigan University to become a Chippewa and I remember thinking, three hours that’s not far, we can see each other all the time!

Due to my unreliable car, seeing each other all the time turned into seeing each other maybe four times a year. Nonetheless, we remained in contact, and even though we weren’t seeing each other every day anymore, we could pick right back up where we started.

You still knew about my relationships and how I hated living at home and I loved hearing about your drunk-escapades – visiting you at CMU are some of my favorite memories.

Like the time it was Central vs. Western weekend and we were in that black-light basement and if the DJ had only asked one more time….

Then I moved a little further away and despite the distance, it seems that our friendship has grown. No, I don’t see you every day and no we don’t even talk every day. There are plenty of times when it seems that we haven’t talked for weeks and then bam! We’ll have two hour long conversations over the phone.

I know I can call you at the drop of the hat and you’ll listen, and vice versa. After sixteen years of being friends, I have no doubt that will ever change – even if we live in different parts of the country.

You’re graduating this year and I couldn’t be any more excited for you! You’re going to go on for your masters degree somewhere, and I hope you do travel further away. I hope you find your dream job and live at one of the billion houses you always talk about having.

I am sad that soon you’ll be gone, but it never seems to be for good and I know that even though our friendship continues to evolve as we are into becoming adults, you’re only a phone call away.