She would be the friend that I left the USA with for the first time in my life. She was the friend with whom I will never forget the hours of talking we did late at night as we sat on the balcony of a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean and laughed and talked and opened ourselves up as only soul sisters can. We have shared countless hours of retail therapy and shared quite a few clothes as well (another kindred love we share!) We have been each other's "wingman," movie date, Walking Dead buddies and shared holidays during those first years when our fractured families were trying to figure it out. We have chased the loneliness out of each other's life more times that I can count. Even though it didn't always feel like it, when we got together, we knew we were going to get through another day. We walked through court proceedings, financial crisis' and financial classes together and grew up. Yes, it was hard...but we did it.
Now, we are celebrating her upcoming nuptials to one amazing man. They met at a work conference last year and fell head over heals.... totally and quickly. I am so happy for her that she has found a Godly, devoted, caring and handsome man to walk the rest of this life's path with...but a little sad too. She will be moving to his home state in June...an airplane ride away. I am selfish and cry a little each time I think about it. I am so happy that she has found her "true North." I wish them a lifetime of joy, memories and more love than they can contain. But even more than that, I am so thankful to have had her by my side during the wild ride of the last few years.
Thank you, God, for the angel with the "questionable" tattoo!
