I think it's rare to find a friend who will last a lifetime. A friend who will always be there no matter what. A friend who understands even when all is silent. Someone who you can simply be yourself with, no airs, no pretenses.
I have been blessed to find such a friend within my short life.
14 years ago on the first day of second semester in Grade 9, I sat in Mr. Dundas's English class and moved a backpack out of the way for a girl who was on crutches. I didn't know it at the time but that girl would become a friend like none other. She would become my kindred spirit.
I wish I could remember more clearly how our friendship began, developed and grew. But I now have, as evidence of its greatness, a friendship that has lasted for exactly half of my life.
In the 14 years that I have been friends with Kathy we've had some ups and downs. We've also lived very far apart for longer than we lived near one another. Yet still we are connected in a way that I cannot really explain to another except to say that we are kindred spirits.
I'm not sure exactly what it is that binds us so closely. I mean when we were in high school we were opposite in so many ways. She was (still is) a blonde while I'm a brunette. She loved dogs and I was terrified of them. She was on the swim team, I didn't (still don't) know how to swim. I was great at French, she not so much. I was a bit of a shy, quiet, nerdy nerd while she was more popular and outgoing. She had her share of boyfriends, I only looked from afar. She had her license and a car, I didn't even take my drivers test until I was 18! Clearly we were from two different ends of the spectrum, but that backpack brought us together and something made us stick together.
My friendship with Kathy has gone through so many different stages and variations over the years. We were inseparable in high school, constantly chattering about boys and fashion. Talking on the phone and planning what we would wear to school based on the weather forecast for the week. We would watch movies and have sleepovers. We were mallrats. We spent hours doing our hair and makeup and picking out just the right outfit to go to dances and church functions. We did everything together.
Then I moved away to university and our friendship took a back seat. We still talked and saw each other when I was home. But I'll be honest and say that our friendship wasn't quite what it used to be. Still, through the 4 years that I was away even though we didn't see each other often when we did get together we could always pick up exactly where we left off. It was never hard, there was no effort required and it didn't seem to matter that we hadn't talked in months, it still felt as though we had seen each other just yesterday.
After university I got married and of course Kathy was my maid of honour. There was no other woman in my life that meant to me what she did. She and I had been through thick and thin and the 4 years of high school and 4 years of university had solidified our friendship for good.
Marriage was a whole new adventure for me which also took me even further away to the other side of the country. Again our friendship took a bit of a back seat and we were considerably less involved in one anothers lives than we had been previously but we still always had that special connection.
Now here we are 6 years later and in the past 6 years I've seen her only a handful of times. Fortunately I just had the chance to spend the weekend with Kathy. She flew out here to visit me and the boys and I couldn't have asked for a better weekend to spend with my best friend. I can only hope and pray that we continue to share this special friendship in the many years that lay ahead. I am so thankful to have such an incredible friend. We truly are kindred spirits.
