Today is my best friend’s birthday.
I met Rochelle almost twenty years ago when I interviewed her for a position at Wayne State University. She was late for the interview because of the weather, but I was working late anyways, and told her it was fine.
Little did I know on that day, her career would begin at the university and I would for the first time in my life, have a best friend.
I had been married less than a year, with no children. She had been married for a while and it turns out was pregnant with her first child. I eventually would leave the department we both worked in and take a position in another building, but we would often meet for lunch. A year later, fate would have it I took a position down the hall from her office. Almost every morning we would meet in my office to eat breakfast together and visit.
She eventually left the university, we both added to our families and we stayed in touch. There were a few years when we did not talk as much as we both would have liked, but I knew if I ever needed anything, she was a phone call away.
As our children grew, they developed a cousin relationship with each other and our families have shared vacations, weekends and birthdays together. She and I have shared many laughs and just as in any great friendship, we have shared our sorrows also.
We laugh because we are different, yet our strengths and weaknesses complement each other. She teases me about my glue, crayon and glitter obsessions, but I know she will keep the promise to sprinkle glitter all over my coffin and grave site if I should die first. The other day, she had me laughing so hard when we were talking about cleaning out my closet, and she looked at me and said “You have a completely different relationship with your clothes than I do.”
She shares with me the books she is reading for her book club, knowing me well enough to know if I would like a particular book, or not. She was patient enough, with Ben’s help, to teach me how to play Euchre. We talk about our children and families, along with the joy and tribulations that come with being a daughter, wife and mom. My children love her as an aunt, and have many wonderful memories of the times they have shared with her.
Although we live much closer to each other now, then when our friendship first began, we still both not so secretly wish we were next door neighbors. A thirty-five minute drive is not that far, but when you need to see your best friend, it may as well be five hours away. We talk about when we are older, we will go to each other's house and sit on the porch. We will talk about all the fun we have had together, and look back on our friendship and smile. Of course, the houses will be right next door to each other.
To my best friend in the world, I wish you the happiest of birthdays! I am so blessed to have you in my life. You are the bestest, and always will be. I love you.
