'Forever Friends'

"'Forever friend.' That's what I should have written in your card," Sue decided during our dinner conversation. At that very moment we had been discussing friendships and the toll her being away in Canada the past year and a half had taken, or not, on some of hers.

That's happened to me and a few of my friends whom I was close with for a moment in time. Some moved upstate, others out of state, and we while we vowed to keep in touch and visit, the demands of life took over & the friendships took a backseat. A sad truth, but simply put: life happens.

In the case of my friendship with Sue, life has definitely happened. It's taken her to college and back, and even back then, we kept in touch via email and letters. Along the years since then, Sue has been fortunate enough to teach English in Japan, travel to Africa, be a bridesmaid in Europe, got married and moved to Canada - and we've always stayed in touch. As I reflect on her travels, I realize what an inspiration she has always been. Through all these experiences, our friendship hasn't faltered. I see how it could have, though. A friendship, like any relationship, requires work, effort, care and genuine love. I would venture to say that we have all the necessary ingredients to maintain 'the perfect' friendship; the only downfall is distance. We work at our friendship, though, not out of obligation, but out of genuine love. As it was stated last night, we consider each other more than friends. We're family; sisters, even. We feel blessed to have each other.

In 16 years we have shared laughs, tears, road trips, birthdays, deaths of dear family members, births of our precious nephews, moves, marathons, dinners, shopping excursions, more laughs, her wedding to an amazing man, and all that's transpired in between.

I am always thankful to have been blessed with the true friends I have. It is so easy to take people and moments for granted. Sue is not someone to take for granted. I am certain that our friendship is one that will last forever, and I look forward to the memories that are to come. Even though we're a whole country apart, all of life's moments and emotions are still shared as if we were only 30 minutes away. I will always be more thankful for our friendship than I can express with mere words. Sue, my forever friend, my sister from another mother, I love you.