I went to girls camp for the first time more than 35 years ago.
I made some really good friends.
There were three of us that called ourselves, "Ultimate Intimates".
We weren't even in the same ward or in the same school.
We saw each other at stake activities.
I'm not sure how it happened, but we stayed close.
At least two of us did.
We grew up together going to youth conference and stake dances.
I think we even dated the same boy once. :-)
Then it was off to college.
We went to the same one, but hung out with different crowds.
We worked together in the summer.
And after that "last single summer" we went our separate ways.
Not by choice; just by life.
She got married the summer I left on a mission.
We didn't keep in touch.
But, luckily, our parents did.
One summer, about eight years ago, my kids and I lived in Virginia with my parents.
My friend was also living there with her husband and three daughters.
We went over and had dinner with them.
It was a little chaotic with my gaggle of children.
But, we laughed and visited and got reacquainted (somewhat).
Then we moved on with life again.
Last week, my friend brought her daughter to college here.
Her mom told her I lived in the area and so she reached out.
We decided to meet up for brunch.
I can't explain the feeling I had as I saw her walking towards me.
She looked exactly the same as I remember.
I had all kinds of emotions come up.
We hugged each other for a long time and had to wipe some tears.
And then went to eat, but mostly visit.
It wasn't one of those awkward visits either.
It was real.
We talked about real stuff.
It was just the two of us this time and it was perfect.
Why is it that I would feel so close to someone and share so much with this person that I haven't talked to in eight years?
There was a real comfortableness for me.
Maybe from knowing that she knew the real me from a long time ago?
I'm sure I could get more philosophical about it.
But, really, my heart is telling it's because we truly are ultimate intimates.
Those friends are the best. I have a friend I grew up with that lives in another state. When we get together we pick right up where we left off. She knows me and gets me. I leave our lunches/get togethers happy and smiling. I think friends like that were our friends in the pre-existence. I don't know how else to explain it.
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