Because they will laugh...

Let me tell you a story...a true story about three friends growing up together. There was Emily, the older sister. Haley the younger sister and their friend Taylor. Had they been sisters Taylor would have been the sister caught in the middle right between Emily and Haley. As children their families were very close. Taylor and Haley were best friends. Over the years they grew apart and began to make new friends in the same grades at school.

One at a time they each graduated from high school and went to the same junior college, still friends, but hanging out with others their same age. Then one at a time, year after year, they each transferred to the same state university. Interestingly enough Taylor moved into an apartment two doors down from Emily when she transferred to state university.

The summer before Haley joined them, Taylor and Emily's roommates had left and they were all alone. Gravitating toward one another they formed a very close friendship. Taylor remembers telling Emily one night what a shame it was that they had known each other their entire lives and yet were just now becoming close friends.

That fall Haley joined Emily and moved into the apartment just down from Taylor. Now the three were once again "growing up together". Taylor was clueless of the adventures that Emily and Haley were about to take her on. Late night pizza runs to Hungry Howies with Mountain Dew and Roach Juice, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 9-ZERO-1-2-ZERO, Guthries, Saturday Night Live, Three Little Pigs, Three Blind Mice, Randazzles Hair Salon, Misty, new boyfriends, old boyfriends, waiting on a missionary, a window breaking, a gorgeous truck, birthday signs, a going away party, surprise birthday party with Taco Salad, break ins-SWF, two new cars, babysitting, Bob, football games, endless games of SORRY and anything else that they could do to possibly torture Taylor were all apart of their lives as they grew closer and closer.

The adventures would soon become treasured memories. The three would have to be separated by life as they continued to grow up. They would graduate from college, move away, marry, become mothers and amazingly enough still remain friends. They can still to this day come together and pick up exactly where they left off no matter how many years have passed. Although considered "adults" in the eyes of society, Emily and Haley know exactly what buttons they can push to torture Taylor. Laughter is always near when the three are together.

~~THE END~~

I love the fact that MY mom and dad still live in the same town, on the same street, in the same house that I grew up in and that I can visit with the same friends whose parents still live in the same town, on the same street, in the same house that they grew up in. Will Durrant once said "Friends are helpful not only because they will listen to us, but because they will laugh at us; Through them we learn a little objectivity, a little modesty, a little courtesy; We learn the rules of life and become better players of the game."

I rarely see my friends Amy and Tiffany Russ, but when I do...watch out! Tiffany was visiting this weekend and I was able to spend some time with them on Saturday at Amy's house. The kids played dress up, ate fudgesicles, bossed each other around and even put their hands up (sorry...you had to be there)!

I made the observation on Saturday that we are now how our moms were when we were our girls age. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we continued on the same path and someday when it's our grandchildren we can still find each other when we return home. They have taught me so much over the years and I cherish our friendship! Not only are they amazing friends, but they are amazing daughters, sisters, wives, mothers and will be someday grandmothers. I know we will be friends for the eternities! I absolutely LOVE seeing them and letting them "laugh at me"!