We’ve been friends for so long that I can vividly recall the day you got your first period, and you remember when I first started wearing a bra. We can still recite our childhood phone numbers and reminisce about the streets we grew up on, and we both understand why returning home can be so complex. Even after a decade of marriage, we still instinctively call each other by our maiden names.
We can quote our favorite lines from classic films like Dirty Dancing and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. We know each other’s favorite characters from shows like Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, and The Golden Girls. We remember the names of our first crushes and the song that played during that middle school dance when we found ourselves crying in the bathroom because of the mean girls.
We’ve been through so much together, from seeing each other throw up after one too many cosmos, to supporting each other through morning sickness and chemotherapy. We’ve shared tears during heartbreak, while choking up over our wedding vows, and during those phone calls after losing a parent. We know the right words to say, even when those words often mean saying nothing at all. We understand when a situation calls for a hug, a joke, or a long string of expletives.
Our bond is filled with countless secrets—like those embarrassing nicknames we’d rather forget and the hidden tattoo only we know about. I remember your seventh-grade mullet-perm, and you know I regret dating that guy back in high school. And of course, we both agree that 1996 was a year of fashion disasters.
We’ve been friends long enough that we not only know where we met our spouses, but we were right there when it happened. We jumped for joy when each of us got engaged, and stood side by side on our wedding days. I knew you were pregnant before you even took the test, and you know I sometimes feel a twinge of sadness about not having a daughter. We’ve talked about how many kids we dreamed of having before parenthood became a reality, and why those plans changed along the way.
We are well aware of each other’s voting preferences from past elections, and we can predict who each other will vote for in the next one without even discussing it. We understand the social issues that matter most to us and why they are deal-breakers. We remember where we were confirmed, celebrated our bat mitzvahs, and share our beliefs about God.
Our friendship has not been without its bumps. We’ve hurt each other, gotten angry, and gone for days or weeks without speaking—only to forget what started the rift in the first place. We’ve extended apologies and offered forgiveness because we know each other’s hearts are true.
We share our biggest regrets and wildest dreams. I know Justin Timberlake will always be your celebrity crush, while Leonardo DiCaprio holds that title for me. We know why certain Dave Matthews songs can still bring tears to our eyes, where we were on that fateful day when the Twin Towers fell, and why margaritas are off the table for us now.
We’ve been friends for so long that real pants—or any pants at all—aren’t necessary when we hang out. We’ve seen each other at our most vulnerable, literally and figuratively, sharing bras, eyeshadow, and Spanx. It’s hard to remember a time when we weren’t friends, and even harder to imagine a future without each other.
Can you believe how long it’s been? Just reflecting on our years of friendship makes me feel…well…older. But we’re not old; our friendship has simply matured. Like a fine scotch or a well-aged bottle of wine, it has grown richer and deeper over time. If you’re curious about more resources on this journey of life and parenthood, check out this excellent post on pregnancy here. And if you’re looking for more information on home insemination, visit this link for some great insights.
In Conclusion
Our friendship is a testament to the time and experiences we’ve shared. It’s a beautiful tapestry woven with laughter, tears, and everything in between.