12.04.2008

Mama Kat's Writing Assignment

I was trying to decide what to post on this Thursday. Thankful Thursday? Thursday Thirteen? Something random?
Then I read Mama Kat's post and was so happy! Finally, I get to participate in Mama Kat's writing assignment, because she has the perfect prompt for me.


It was prompt number two, to be exact.


"2.) Are you still friends with your high school friends? Describe them."





I'm actually still friends with several of my high school friends. They're on my myspace and we keep in touch.
But the one I'm talking about today is my bestest friend in the whole world, Danielle.




Danielle and I met when I was 15 and she was about 13. We met in church and hit it off immediately. The next year, she was a freshman at my high school and we got even closer. We have been through everything together. She was the first person to ride in my new car when I was 16, a 1984 Mustang (oh, how I miss that car). She was also the first (and only) person to pee in my car.

(I made her laugh. A lot. Good times!)

I watched her high school boyfriend physically and emotionally abuse her, and told him off and dumped him out of my car. I was very protective over her. I skipped school to take care of her. She didn't really have a mother to speak of. I kind of took over that role.

Later, we both got married and pregnant. Our boys are just over one month apart in age. Then we had our girls....18 days apart (but they were due only ONE day apart! Her baby girl was early). She went through a divorce and a bad relationship. I hung on to my bad marriage, always confiding in her and only her. We were both SAHMs for many years, and we talked on the phone every day. I honestly don't know what I would've done without her in those years.

When I started working in day care, she was going through her second divorce. I got her a job with me. We always tried to take care of each other.
When she married the third (and final!!) time, she had a church wedding, and I was a bridesmaid. Her husband is a great guy, and in 2000, they had a little boy together. For the first time, she was pregnant...and I wasn't! But she took care of that. Within days of giving her giving birth to her youngest son, I found out I was pregnant with my Princess. I swear she jinxed me! But I'm so glad she did. So, our youngest kids are less than a year apart in age. And we're currently arranging their marriage.

All of our kids are still friends, although we live one town apart from each other and they don't see each other often. The girls especially are very close.

When the major event that ended my first marriage occured, we happened to already have a lunch date the next day. We were meeting at a park so the kids could play. She had no idea the condition that I would be in. We sat down at a picnic table and I let it all out. She cried with me. I know that if she could've, she'd have committed a serious felony that day. Again, I don't know what I'd have done without her during that time.
She's always had the knack for calling me at just the right time. The first time I had to drop my kids off for visitation and they were meeting their father's girlfriend (now wife) for the first time, I had just driven down the road when the phone rang.

It was Danielle, of course, asking me, 'Are you okay?'

And the answer, of course, was 'no'. That was so hard to get used to, at first.

She always told me that I would be so much better off in the long run, and she was so right. She loves my hubby, because he is so good to me. She encouraged me to further my relationship with him, even when some people in my life were telling me that I should stay single and just take care of my kids. Danielle told me that for once in my life, it was time to do something for me. I'm so glad I did!

We don't talk or see each other as often as we'd like. We both stay so busy. But we stay in touch, and we're there for the important things. She was at my second wedding, I was at her recent graduation from college. I know I can always come to her when I need her. For twenty years, we have been best friends. What we have is special. There will never be anyone else in my life like Danielle. We are more than friends, more than family. We have a bond like no other.

I love my best friend!

Our girls when they were about three. They're both thirteen this month!


Our boys when they were around 3 or 4. They're both 15 now.

35 comments:

Jen - Queen of Poo said...

Those kinds of friends are priceless. I'm so glad you have at least one. :-)

jori-o said...

She sounds like the best BFF ever! And how convenient that all your kids are around the same age and are friends too! You guys relly planned (haha) that well! =)

Melissa said...

WOW...what a great friend!!! You are so lucky to have a friend like that......forever!!!

Anonymous said...

You are two lucky ladies to have each other as friends!

April said...

That is the sweetest story and it just warms my heart. There is nothing like having a bestie, is there? I met my best friend, Marni, when I was in the 5th grade. I was the maid of honor in her wedding and she was my matron of honor. We have been through so much together and I know I can always count on her. We live several states apart, but we keep in touch as best we can. We exchange Christmas gifts via mail every year. It's our own little tradition and our way of staying connected.

Here's to friendships that last a lifetime!!!

Jen said...

what a beautiful friend you have and a great friendship. I must say that I am a little jealous, I could really use a friend like that. How blessed you are to have each other.

Jenners said...

Visiting from MamaKat's writing workshop links. What a tribute to female friendship! You are both so lucky to have each other...and may your children share the same bonds you were able to keep! Great post!

Ness said...

What a beautiful post about your friend. I have a best friend like that. They're priceless!

Melissa said...

You are so lucky! Friends like that are worth more than anything the world, but you already knew that.

GypsiAdventure said...

Awe...she sounds like a wonderful friend!
~K

Anonymous said...

Your lucky to have such a wonderful friend like that.. and to have your kids be friends.. you can't ask for better!! What sweet photos of them when they were younger..

CC said...

What a wonderful tribute to a great friend!!! I am not friends with anyone from high school (or earlier) anymore and it does make me sad that I have had no one to lean on whose known me for so very long.

Unknown said...

You both are very lucky to have each other!! :)

Sometimes Sophia said...

You are soooo lucky to have a friend like Danielle. Great post and a moving tribute. Thanks for sharing.

Mama Wheaton said...

I'd tell you how lucky you are but I am pretty sure you know already!

Shala said...

That was such a sweet post. What a great friend and you are both lucky to have someone to be there for you when you need it the most.

Shala said...

That was such a sweet post. What a great friend and you are both lucky to have someone to be there for you when you need it the most.

Aubrey said...

Great choice for this Thursday. What a special relationship. You are really blessed!
One of my closest friends I've known since Kindergarten. She means the world to me too!

Karol said...

You are one lucky woman to have (and be) such an awesome friend!

Anonymous said...

what a great stroy!! be blessed!!

Jennifer said...

wow. that is great. :) it is nice to read a loving story of a lasting friendship. i have a girlfriend that we have been friends for years and years... over 12 yrs and it is sad b/c we don't stay in touch like we should.... but after reading this today... i'm going to call her up, invite her to our new years party and tell her to come see my new house.

i do love her and we have been through a lot together too. :)

thanks for sharing and for the great reminder. :)

xoxox have a great day.

Tara R. said...

It'g great that you have such a fabulous friend like that, and that now your kids are great friends too.

Danyele Easterhaus said...

now that is super fun. i have one long time friend that i keep in touch with. although facebook is really helping me out these days!

Live.Love.Eat said...

That really is a touching & beautiful story of friendship! To go through such hard times with one another like that......wow.....through thick and thin they say. My Danielle (actual name) and I grew apart but I am so glad your Danielle was there for you.

Thank you for coming by!!!

Kat said...

You are so blessed to have such a wonderful friend. That is indeed rare.

Solei said...

Aww, that is sooooooo sweet!
For a minute there you sounded like my best friend and I, being pregnant at the same time, with due dates only a day apart. I swear, that was me and my bestie!!! Only, she had complications and had a preemie, resulting in her giving birth a month before I did.

Luckily, you and your bestie still have each other. We grew apart sadly enough. I consider myself a good mother and put my kids first. She just hands off her kids to her mother to watch and puts her kids last. Unfortunately, I can't stand people like that so we drifted apart!!!
Yay for you!
I'm jealous! =0(
And I miss my old bestie! Maybe I should call her...

junglemama said...

What an awesome forever friend!

junglemama said...

BTW, I've added you to my blogroll!

KatBouska said...

So cute! The pictures of your kids together are priceless!!

Nice to have a friend there for you for so long...you should probably just start calling her your sister for crying out loud. :)

Thanks for playing this week!!!

Mama Dawg said...

Wow! What an amazing friend (both of you)! Terrific story!

Minxy Mimi said...

What a wonderful testimony to friendship!
I also have a great friend named Danielle too... and she is a gem as your friend is!

Jennifer said...

What a very sweet post:)

Anonymous said...

this was a beautiful post.

it made me think of my best friend.

Jennifer said...

Wow--you're so lucky to have such a great friend! And how cool your friends are good friends too!

Anonymous said...

Adorable! I hope I keep hold of my friends that long. :)