Redheaded Jill

I use this platform to complain a lot about lost friendships and things in my life that my shrink would call little t traumas. But I am very fortunate to have some amazing friends from different times in my life.

This week I got to spend time with my childhood best friend. We have known one another for over 30 years. We were in school together from kindergarten to graduation. We remained friends through college and beyond. I was a bridesmaid in her wedding and now she lives 10 minutes from me with the most precious daughter whom I adore.

Usually when we get together there are kids around and we talk, but there’s always that distraction of caring for a child and making sure everyone is getting along and safe. Or providing snacks and entertainment. It’s a great time. But this week we got to talk, one on one, for several hours. I have missed her.

I got updated on her life, I told her about mine. We talked about family and highs and lows. She is such a caring person, tending to the needs of relatives left and right, including her in laws. She is a great example to me of a wife and mother. I am so grateful that we are still close friends.

We grew up very different. She has a half-brother several years older than her so essentially she grew up an only child. I am the second of seven kids so we had the best of both worlds when picking places to go and play.

Her daughter loves my chickens and got me a disco ball to hang in the chicken coop. I am going to clean out the coop really well and have them come over to help install it. Such a fun idea. And definitely something we would have done as kids.

It is so fun to watch your friends become parents. It is so fun to have unofficial nieces and nephews all over the place. Today I am so thankful for my childhood friends.