Dear Tara

Writing my thank you letter to your mom yesterday made me think of all the things I need to thank you for, too.

First of all, thank you for showing me where the "washroom" and drinking fountain were. I'm not sure how long it would've taken us to become friends if not for those five minutes. (Or maybe I should thank Miss Benwell for that...?)

Secondly, thanks for letting me borrow your coloured pencils. ...And for not getting mad at me for always asking.

Thank you for following me into the bathroom at school when another girl made me cry, and for talking me out of the stall, convincing me you were indeed still my friend and that we'd always be friends. You were right, and I'm so glad!

I remember hoping against hope that I'd get to sit with you when the teacher moved our desks around. I remember you being taken home at 2 a.m. because we were playing Crocodile and for some reason my parents didn't like us standing on the furniture and laughing hysterically at that time of the morning. I remember Saturday night ice cream. I remember being mad that you always had Pathfinders and couldn't come over much during the school year. I remember how much it annoyed me that you and Marci always wanted to let my sisters play with us. I remember filling entire notepads with notes back and forth during church. I remember exploring that scary bullet-hole-infested trailer that mysteriously had always been in that field next to the school...and getting in trouble for it. I remember you laughing at my book title about the four seasons. I remember your adventures with dog treats. I remember not understanding how you could be so nice to EVERYONE. I remember sleepovers..."How now, brown cow?" and "The countdown is down..." (Where did we ever get this stuff?!?)

Then we grew up. We graduated from high school together, went to college together, shared a dorm room together...and found out together that Nathan had been killed in a car accident. Then we cried together. We talked about boyfriends, jealousy, dates, relationships, love, and marriage. We studied together, watched movies together and ate in the cafeteria together.

Then you moved. You had boyfriends, got a tattoo, pierced your ears, got a coffee machine, bought a truck and finished your first degree. All without me. It was a sad time!

But every time we got together it was like nothing had ever changed. As though we were still having sleepovers, discussing brown cows, eating ice cream at midnight and whining about boys. You always have been my best friend, Tay-ruh...and you were right - you always will be. I couldn't ask for a better one. Thank you.

I love you, buddy!

Love,
Britches