Our lives would be meaningless without relationships, wouldn’t they? And I’m not just talking about “oh I’m so in love with you” relationships, I mean all types. Today I’m going to write about my BFFs and why I wouldn’t be able to survive without them.
I’m a pain in the ass to be friends with. I’m constantly asking for help with mundane tasks, and also do not know how to handle most social situations (especially with the opposite sex) and to the people that have decided to be my friends… well, thank you.
My oldest friend, Jamie, currently lives in Virginia and though we only get to see each other once or twice a year, when we do it’s like nothing has changed. We have watched each other grow through elongated awkward teenage years, and cried on each other in moments of grief that we were too young to be dealing with. But throughout all of that, we have managed to be each others touchstones. As pre-teens and teenage girls we went through a lot of firsts together- which is a special quality in a female BFF. Not every girl you’re friends with in your lifetime will be able to remember when you had your first kiss, or how tormented you were when it was over, and how it contributed to your lifetime of awkward male relationships. But your oldest girlfriend can. Whenever things get rough, she’s there to pull me out of a rut. And we still don’t judge each other when we say or do ridiculous things.
My true blue BFF, Allie, has also watched me grow from the most awkward of teenagers, to the most awkward of adults. Though she and I have virtually nothing in common, we have managed to remain the strongest of friends since we were sophomores in high school. Even when people see Allie (resident hottie) and I (live in weirdo) in public, they are surprised when we reconvene in the dressing room giggling or complaining about the sizes at H&M. Allie is also the one who tells it to me like it is. For example, a few weeks ago we were discussing our current love lives (or lack thereof) when she straight up called me a “pussy” and told me to “man up.” And I still haven’t, so she’ll probably call me this weekend and call me a baby, or something. But really- if she weren’t around, I would probably spend half my life trying to figure out what was appropriate to say when, or to do when. With Allie, it’s never a guessing game. If I do something stupid- in public or private- she tells me. And I am sure to never do it again, most of the time.
When I came to college, I left behind Allie and Jamie and everything else I knew and moved here knowing not a single soul. This didn’t last very long. In my residence hall, I met two of the most fantastic individuals ever, who to this day continue to amaze me and crack me up harder than anyone I know. Jon and Joey became my live in best friends, quickly and surely. They have seen me cry my eyes out over boys, carried me home after drinking way more than I should have, and laughed about my mishaps with me the next morning. People are always talking about how college friends are unforgettable. And these two boys sure do prove it. Not only do they tell it like it is and pull me out of ruts like Allie and Jamie, they are also willing to help me out with all of those manly physical tasks girlfriends normally ask their boyfriends for. And they cook me dinner on occasion. It’s like we’re all in some weird, polyandrous relationship. And I think we’re all okay with it.
The last best friend I’ll mention in this self-indulgent blog post is my mom. My mom is the best, best friend anyone could ask for. She’ll send me quirky packages in the mail (like the time she sent me all my favorite picture books when I was feeling sad) and tell me when I’m being an asshole. She’s there for me when I need to ask advice on an outfit at 11:30pm, or when I need to know who the guy from that one Freddy Kruger movie is at 3am. She has watched me grow from a quirky kid, to an awkward adult and dealt with all of my bullshit in between and she still cares about me. My mom is the ultimate BFF. I mean, she has to love me but she doesn’t have to like me, right?
I love my BFFs and tell them way too often. So get on the phone and call your mom and your oldest girlfriend and tell her how much you still care, and that you’re sorry about that drunk dial last weekend.