“If there’s an upside to free falling, it’s the chance you give your friends to catch you.” – Meredith Grey Greys Anatomy

Dear y'all, (for my southern bff's of course)

I feel like this will eventually circulate back to me in my old age and I'll absentmindedly re-read it and roll my eyes. I'll laugh a little and probably send you all a text or whatever the new form of technology will be just to laugh about it with me because I don't see myself ever not being friends with you. I can't even think about what life would be without you and what crazy shenanigans i'd probably be in if you weren't there to be my better judgment sometimes. Here are a couple of things I really need to thank you for.

1. Thank you for not openly getting mad when I wake you up in the middle of the night because I "must" tell you something or get a hold of you to tell me if the instagram I'm contemplating is good enough.

I totally know that my incessant need to quadruple text has been something along the lines of inconvenient to my friends who keep their phones on vibrate overnight. But come on, I just had to tell you that I just walked by that kid we saw at that one tailgate, right? But in all seriousness, if anything drastic or important were to happen in my life, you guys would be the first to hear it.

2.Thank you for always thinking of me when you're getting food.

I know we all know that I'm the hungriest friend and the moment I get that "do you want anything from __ text" is when I really value you guys as my friends. (jk, but not really). No really, thank you for always thinking of me and being so generous, I'm glad you guys associate me with food and I appreciate the thought so much. XO!!!!

3. Thank you for always listening to me talk about boys.

Being my best friend is hard to keep up with, seeing as I change my mind about things and people very sporadically. Not to mention, once I'm fixed on something, I can not stop talking about it. So thanks guys, for really not giving me a hard time when I just need to get out that "he just snap chatted me back, so do I answer right away or wait it out to make it seem like i'm not THAT interested. Life is hard!!!!!!!!!!!!" You guys are so important to me that I just want you to know what's going on in my life... even if it's constantly.

4. Thanks for reciprocating my bad snapchat selfies.

Snapchat holds the holy grail of my ugly selfies. Seriously, I have some really unattractive ones that are definitely floating around in the inter web, or whatever. But I really have to thank all of you for not only supporting me in my sending of ugly snapchats but also for sending them right back to me. You are keepers, every one of you.

5. Thanks for being my family away from my actual family.

The most important thing that you have all been able to do for me is be my support system and my go-to girls. Whether it's at school in South Carolina or all the way home in Massachusetts, my friends are there for me in a heartbeat. If I am locked out of my house I know that someone will be there to pick me up so I don't have to wait outside alone. If I can't make it home from a tailgate, (due to fatigue obviously) then I know I have friends who will take me home with them instead. You guys are the people who come to mind first when someone says "best friends" and I am proud of that. Thank you guys, for really helping me be a better version of myself and for always letting me feel like i'm not alone.

I appreciate you crazy people, hope you know that.

xo,

Ariana