My BFFL

Have you ever met someone that you click with?  I met Michelle in 2003 after we moved in our new home in Michigan.  She was building her house across and two houses down from me.  I knew I wasn't going to like this family as they were building my exact same house.  How dare they use our plan on the same street?!?  

We met at a neighborhood cookout and how could I not like this exuberant, cheerful and just plain friendly person?  We started chatting and just enjoyed each others company.  We began walking our dogs together and we learned all there was to know about each other, our families, our frustrations, and our dreams.  She was my buddy, my pal, my amiga.  She was the one who told me I would have children one day even though I had given up and was telling myself it would all work out and we were fine as a childless couple.  She was the 2nd person to know I was pregnant (after my husband of course!).  She was the first person to come see me in the hospital after I had Jemma.  She was the one that I would ask 7 million questions about raising babies.  She is my BFFL (Best Friend for Life).

This is the woman that I convinced to spend $700 to do Body Boot Camp with me.  She put a cold rag on my neck that first night at boot camp as I lay on a public bathroom floor thinking I was going to throw up and die.  This is the woman that I gladly drove home after the night of arm workouts and she asked if I could drive since she couldn't move her arms.  We just did those things for each other.  I know that I could ask her to do anything and she would be right there with me (as long as it didn't include going on a cruise!).

I need to add that this woman is an amazing teacher. She has taught 5th grade for many years and her students, her parents, the staff...they love and adore her.  I have heard the things she does in class and I am amazed at the energy and excitement she brings to her students.  

She is one of the best dancers!  She has moves like you have never seen! 

She is my shopping buddy.  We go to Old Navy at 8:00 at night or spend a Saturday afternoon at Anne Taylor Loft, Home Goods and Grande Trunke.  She is honest (brutally) when trying on clothes.  We are partners in crime when Taco Bell calls late at night.  That is a true friend!

She makes the BEST BROWNIES in the World!!!  I mean it... they are beyond divine.  

She is hilarious and tells the best stories!  This woman is F-U-N-N-Y!

Most importantly she is the best mother that I know.  She is raising children who are respectful, caring, and kind. If anything ever happens to me, I would want her to raise Jemma.  Enough said...

Then the day came that I had to tell her that I was moving.  She was mad.  I mean MAD!  She yelled at me!  She hated the BHW and told me all about it.  With all that said, I knew she was sad and hurt and yes, angry.  I was too.  How was I going to live without someone forcing me to exercise.  Whose house was I going to go to and watch the Bachelor and Bachelorette in my jammies?  With all that said, she was the one who opened her home to me to live for 2 weeks after our house sold and school wasn't out.  She is the one who picked lice out of my hair, yes, you heard me right... picked lice out of my hair when Jemma got it at school and gave it to me.  You can't find friends like that.

I miss her.  I miss her everyday.  We talk all the time but it isn't the same as sitting in her kitchen and just discussing the day at school or the kids.  I got to spend a week with her and it was a bit of heaven.  She is just the person that I am most comfortable around and can share anything.  The beauty of this kind of friendship is that it never goes away.  No matter how far away you are.  So Michelle, my BFFL, this post is for you!

I am linking up to Heidi at Heart and Home for her Gratitude Wednesday party.  She posted about her best friend moving and it just made me think of my dear friend who I am very grateful for.