Spotlight on a Special Friend

At the risk of not giving due attention to the many wonderful woman friends in my life - some of whom are true kindred spirits, life-long friends - I would like to express my affection for the first "best friend" I ever had. She is someone who touches my life today, even though we so seldom cross paths:

Twenty two years ago this month, I met my best friend. You know, the one who is your "BFF" and whom you exchanged those broken lockets with? We had known each other and were friendly during the couple of years we attended Catholic school together, but it wasn't until gym class, on the first day of school in junior high, that I discovered true and lasting friendship for the first time. While our junior and senior high school years were filled with fun and with other close friends (both shared and not shared), it is our adult years that I cherish.

Allyson and I have always been very different people. She's a bit more reserved than me, and can seem quiet at first (nobody has ever accused me of that!). She was very athletic, and I was more of the music/theater/dance kind. So, as we've gone our own separate ways over the years, I'm always amazed at how easy it is to come together - even after a very long time. She's lived on the East Coast since college and now has her own beautiful family and an amazing husband that I am blessed to also call a friend. Still, it takes no more than the first hug for me to feel that same warm connection that I felt that first day of school so long ago.

Today Allyson and her family stopped by our house on the way to the airport. I had such a treat visiting with her, her parents and her kids. Hugging her mom and dad made me feel like I was 15 again, and when I gave Al a goodbye hug, I recognized the scent of the fabric softener that her mom uses. Warm memories flooded over me. I'm so grateful for this true and lasting friendship. Of all of my close friends from high school and college, Allyson is the one I probably see the least. The years have brought a lot of joy and sadness in both of our lives, but the blessing is in knowing that not a word needs to be said, just a phone call, a touch, or a hug can break months of silence.

Thank you Al, for the friend you are. Thank you for the years of sharing your family with me and making me feel like part it.
I love you!