8.14.2013

Count On Me: Laura

Ok so I know it's been awhile, again, that I've posted. Don't hate. What have you written for me to read since my last post? Hmm? Hmm? Mmmhmm that's right. I'm going to try to be more consistent in my blogging, but not for you. For me. It's truly therapeutic. You should try it. I would read. Promise. :)

So this post is about the second longest friendship I've had. She's my friend Laura. Or "La" to me. She's the type of friend who is truly and genuinely concerned about others over herself. She's got an intriguingly quirky sense of humor that I adore. I'm constantly laughing and smiling when she's around. So much so, that my cheeks often hurt from smiling so much. She's the type of friend that when you get to laughing with, you get that silent-your-sides-hurt-you-can't-breathe-laugh going. You slap your leg and point at things or each other. Amazing. What a joy La is.

She's also one of the most thoughtful friends that I've had. She asks questions, but then actually listens and cares about what your answer is. She takes it in and thinks on it and responds. That's rare. She's no surface level or fair-weather friend. She's truly dedicated to our friendship. Even when we haven't been in touch for weeks, we pick back up where we last left off and that's ok. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that in her. There's no petty drama to deal with that most girls have. There's no "well you haven't called or texted me." There's no feeling of guilt that you haven't responded to an email. There's only thoughtfulness. There's only understanding. There's only grace.

I'm not sure that La and I would've ended up being friends if it hadn't been for Kellie. You see Kellie and Laura met in middle school. Kellie and I were on separate teams and I kept hearing her talk about this girl named Laura. To be honest, I was a little sad to hear about the quick and fun friendship between my best friend, Kellie and this "other" girl, Laura. I eventually met her, and darn it if I couldn't help but love her so much myself. I'm so thankful that Kellie introduced me to this wonderful friend.

I have so many memories with you, Laura. Some of my favorites are from our cruise after graduation. Pairing up together and going to the pizza bar at who knows what hour of the day. Trying to track down Gabriel and learning to say "ich liebe dich." And Martin. Oh my. What silly girls we were! But how much fun!

I remember that recently I was going through boxes of my things at my parents' house, and I came across an envelope full of letters from college. I was floored at how many I had from you, La. You were always so encouraging and interested in how I was doing. And you always had some cute little pun about how the letter was going from Athens to Rome. :) I can only hope that I returned your kindness then, but I fear that I have not been the friend to you that you have been to me.

I remember having Kellie's bachelorette party at my house and Laura and I having so much fun together. I remember her being the only one who was concerned that something had been spilled on my brand new carpets. I remember hat Laura was at my bachelorette party...yes I remember my bachelorette party. The Compound...on Urban Night, and we were like the only 7 or 8 white people in the club. I also L.O.V.E. the fact that Laura totally danced on the catwalk with me. Amazing.

When I think of those friends that I hold dearest to my heart, I am constantly confused as to why they choose to keep me as a part of their lives. I am most certainly not the best at keeping in touch, sending cute notes to see how you're doing, calling to check in, but Laura is a perfect example of someone who is. She remembers tiny details about others and caters to them.

Laura has most definitely been a better friend to me than I have been to her. I can honestly say that I am undeserving of her friendship. Of her kindness, her thoughtfulness, her grace, her understanding. I can't change the type of friend that I've been in the past, but La is an inspiration to me to change the type of friend I'm going to be from today and forward.

I am so ever thankful that our lives are still intertwined. Laura just had her second baby. She has two of the most adorable baby boys you will ever see. I've decided that Jonathan can marry Kellie's daughter, Ellanor, and Caleb can marry my Lyla. I'm not sure I've met a boy yet that can handle Ava, and Rebekah is much to young to marry off just yet. ;)

So my precious friend, La, I hope that you know how very dear you are to me. You have been such an amazing source of inspiration, encouragement, happiness, understanding. I love you very, very much. I hope that I can be the type of friend to you that you are to me. I know that I can Count On You. Please know that you can Count On Me.