If you were anything like me, in elementary school we all agonized over who our "best friend" was....that day. If you didn't spend every spare moment and recess with this person, the friendship was clearly in jeopardy. Once junior high arrived we allowed ourselves a little more flexibility in that we might have multiple "best friends" at the same time. But membership into this club was generally tenuous, with degrees of "best" existing on a sliding scale and with even some of the people we wished were our "bests" not feeling the same way about us.
As much as we may often say we'd like to be a kid again, it's not for those reasons! Thank goodness adults "get" that our closest friends need not be ones we see very often or even talk and text with weekly or daily. Sherise and I have known each other for close to 25 years. Yes, there are other very important people in my life who I have known and kept in touch with for even longer, but when I think of my very BEST bff, I don't have to think about how to fill in that blank.
Although she lives nearby, prior to having lunch together this weekend, I hadn't seen her since early December. This made me calculate that we might see each other 6-8 times a year. I know this is clearly more often than I see most people I might blog about in 2014, but considering how important her friendship is to me, I cherish the times we carve out for each other and each time is worth its own recognition.
We met during university, both waitressing at Nick's Steakhouse. Industry life includes much time socializing and so our bond grew over glasses of wine, trips to Crazy Horse, weekends in Invermere and other life experiences (boyfriends!) which helped us navigate becoming "grown-ups" as we faced the prospect of the rest-of-our-lives. One of the things that sets Sherise apart from so many other close friends in my life is the fact that she isn't a teacher and so our conversations naturally veer in other directions. While we have much in common, I think our differences - professional lives being one - complement our relationship. She is a talented, successful, corporate big-wig, working in telecommunications and leading large teams of people with grace and skill. I smile-and-nod a lot when she talks about her job. She is also bold and emotional (in a sophisticated way). If she isn't voicing her opinions (eloquently) she is definitely conveying her feelings through her facial expressions. (I've never played poker with Sherise....okay, maybe once, 20+ years ago....but that's not for this blog... but I bet I'd win as "poker face" will never be her strength). Further to our differences, but added to the list of qualities I admire, is her being a loving mom, a patient wife (actually, we have THIS in common), a dedicated sister and a fashionista extraordinaire! This girl has two closets full of clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories to-die for. Even a date to Starbucks gets the full treatment.
Yesterday afternoon at Earl's we enjoyed lunch and coffee (finally!), professional talk about career, updates about kids, girl-talk about shopping, catching up about Christmas and New Year's and anticipated going to see Lady GaGa together in May then Michael Buble in June. (Although hopefully it isn't May before we get to get together again.) Our visit was overdue, as it usually is. The time passed quickly, as it always does.
The descriptions in this blog may not seem to delve very deep but don't we hear all the time that love is impossible to define anyway? Derek and I had a small, 16 guest, family-only wedding. But Sherise was there. Actually, that's a great way to sum her up. She's family. But one of the rare members you get to choose!
It was great to see her. It has been great telling you about her!
Yesterday afternoon at Earl's we enjoyed lunch and coffee (finally!), professional talk about career, updates about kids, girl-talk about shopping, catching up about Christmas and New Year's and anticipated going to see Lady GaGa together in May then Michael Buble in June. (Although hopefully it isn't May before we get to get together again.) Our visit was overdue, as it usually is. The time passed quickly, as it always does.
The descriptions in this blog may not seem to delve very deep but don't we hear all the time that love is impossible to define anyway? Derek and I had a small, 16 guest, family-only wedding. But Sherise was there. Actually, that's a great way to sum her up. She's family. But one of the rare members you get to choose!
It was great to see her. It has been great telling you about her!
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