Dear friends, I heart you

This post is about my buddies. I was fortunate enough to travel all over the US in my early years and recently to Spain, in so doing I met some of the greatest people in the world. (I'm not biased at all.)

This is M. She and I met at Marshfield Junior High when I happened to sit next to her at the lunch table and announced, "My mom had nine miscarriages!" We've been best friends ever since. She's been my rock through all the stresses of my life. I would take a bullet for her.

My best friend in the world. M. 

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." 

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

-----

These two I met while working at the UVU Library back when in was a two-story closet. I run races with T (on the right) and go shopping with D (left). All of us love Doctor Who, Buffy, Supernatural, ComicCon, and watching the Oscars for the jalapeno peppers and Swedish meatballs. (Sometimes we even joke about dressing up for the party, but we never do.) We love board games, Dr. Pepper, and riffing on each other.

D, me, and T hanging out on one of our movie or speed scrabble nights. 

"Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another: 'What! You Too? I thought I was the only one.'" 

--C.S. Lewis

-----

Mel was in my ward back in Missouri in the early 90s. She lived with my family for a summer when we were young, but our friendship really took off when we reconnected a few years ago. She has a sensational giggle and the best sense of humor--a notable duo--and is one of the most intelligent women I've ever met. She's a force to be reckoned with. Here we are in costume for the Sundance Film Festival in February 2014.

Mel and me eating pancakes like a boss.

"Some people go to priests; others to poetry; I to my friends." 

--Virginia Woolf

-----

Roni Jo and me, rock-climbing

Roni Jo taught two of my courses in my reading endorsement program, which I took in 2007. But segued from teacher-student to pals last October, when we started rock-climbing together. She is vivacious and brilliant. I learned from her to be brave, to stand up, proudly, for your beliefs. Also, she's a killer resource for all your education-based questions.

"I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better." 

--Plutarch

-----

The first time I saw K in person was at the Barcelona airport. She's in my cohort at Cedar Crest. We shared a cab to our hotel and, in two weeks, pretty much traipsed every inch of the city. She loves people and shares my unquenchable passion for gelato and writing.

K and me 

"Be true to your work, your word, and your friends." 

--Henry David Thoreau

-----

N and me running the Invasion 5K

Nic and I are old college buddies. Back then, we were busy with our new husbands and school, so our friendship orbited around joint English classes. But later, after we both had a couple kids, we reconnected via facebook and leaned on each other for support during some very stressful times in our lives. She's kind and has a inexplicable, enviable amount of inner strength and endurance.

"The only way to have a friend is to be one." 

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

-----

This is B and me. B is one of the many talented writers in my cohort. Her work is delicious, her words chewy. We only had a couple of meals together, but I think she's great, every outspoken, comedic, down-to-earth bit of her. 

I love this woman! B! You're the best!

"There's not a word yet for old friends who've just met." 

--Jim Henson