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Welcome to the fourth day of the 2018 Love Blog Challenge! Today’s prompt is Friendship. Check out the announcement post for all the prompts and rules this month. You can still join the link-up for yesterday’s topic, Guilty Pleasures.
This is my third year hosting the Love Blog Challenge. When I create the prompts each year, I share both a simple prompt, like Guilty Pleasures or Friendship, as well as a few questions to inspire bloggers. Submitted blog posts must follow the main prompt, but answering the questions is optional.
This is my third year hosting this, and I’ve never actually written a blog post answering the prompt’s questions. I want to change that, starting today.
Who was your first best friend?
I met Gabrielle in kindergarten. I don’t remember how she became my best friend, but she did. We were in the same kindergarten and first grade classes, but then my family moved from California to South Carolina.
Gabrielle and I didn’t see each other again for seven years.
This was before social media. Before email. This was back when most families didn’t even have a computer at home, let alone the Internet.
But Gabrielle and I stayed best friends by writing letters and occasionally calling each other on the phone. Long-distance calls were also expensive back then.
Gabrielle flew out to South Carolina to spend a week with me the summer between eighth and ninth grade. I flew out to California to spend a little over a week with her and my other old friends the following summer. That was 2002.
Our best friendship faded over the years. When we both went off to college, we suddenly had multiple long-distance best friendships to maintain instead of just our own. We might have dropped the best label, but our friendship continued on.
The next time we saw each other was in New York, in 2012.
Meeting up in our 20s was so easy and natural, like we saw each other all the time.
We’re both 30 now, and 31 looms closer. Our birthdays are in June, just two weeks apart. I don’t know when I’ll see Gabrielle again, but I know she’ll be a lifelong friend. Time and distance don’t matter when your friendship is meant to be.
Do you have just one best friend or many?
I have many best friends!
Best friends from high school
Aimee and I had been friends since the second or third grade, but in high school we became best friends. We were co-editors of the yearbook and spent hours together, which could have been awful if we didn’t like each other so much! I don’t get to see Aimee very often, but when we do, it’s like no time has passed at all.
Kimi and I became friends our freshman year, and she introduced me to her best friend Madison our sophomore year. I was dealing with a challenging transition in my life at this time as my middle school best friends faded from my life (and as I broke up with my remaining best friend). Kimi and Madison were patient with me junior year as we spent all of our time together, and I still didn’t call them my best friends. I was still hurting over my lost friendships and afraid to have new ones. Eventually I realized Kimi and Madison were absolutely my besties. The three of us don’t see each other often, but our best friendship is still going strong. Kimi and I were bridesmaids in Madison’s wedding a few years ago! I’m hoping we can manage a girls’ weekend this summer at the beach. The three of us need some time together without any dudes.
Matt has been one of my best guy friends since high school. We’ve been friends since middle school, but I didn’t refer to any guys as my best friends in middle school. Because boys were either cute or gross (and sometimes both), and all of us were awkward. Matt always challenges me intellectually. We’ve had so many long conversations about life and art and religion and philosophy and anything and everything. Usually over a few drinks, because that’s when the best conversations happen.
Noah is my best guy friend and my step-cousin. He’s in the high school section because we were in high school when we became best friends, but he’s actually from Seattle. We met one summer when my mom and I were in Denver for her high school reunion. Noah was staying with his dad (my uncle) and his stepmother (my aunt and my mom’s younger sister). He was charming and sarcastic and intelligent, so obviously we got along great. Thus started many email exchanges and AIM chats that lasted for hours. We reunited four years later at his brother’s bar mitzvah, and then again for my wedding reception. The next Noah-Brita reunion is happening in April in Tokyo! So get excited blogging fans!
Best friends from college
Russell and I met in high school, but we were more like friendly acquaintances then. We had several friends in common, but we didn’t share any classes or spend much time together outside of school. I always thought he was a good guy, but I didn’t know him well. (Which is even more funny when you realize his mom taught me twice in middle school… which Russell and I also attended together). Then Russell went to Furman a year before I did. When he found out I was going to Furman, he was so kind and welcoming to me. He gave me tips on professors for gen ed classes, and he answered all my questions about the sororities on campus. After I joined Kappa, I started going to Pi Kapp parties, which was his fraternity. Russell quickly became one of my best guy friends, and he still is. He was my debutante escort when I debuted, and my date for two more balls. Now we get together over Thanksgiving or Christmas if we manage to coordinate our visits home at the same time. I think we’re finally on the same holiday-alternating schedule, so hopefully I’ll continue to see him once a year!
I became best friends with Rachel and Bethany at about the same time, but in totally different circumstances. Rachel and I lived on the same freshman hall, but she did marching band that fall, so I never saw her. She and her roommate hosted a Super Bowl party in their dorm room, and shortly after, Rachel and I started eating lunch together. And then we became best friends.
Related: My Best Friend Makes Me a Better Person #ILooktoHer
Around the same time, Bethany and I both joined Kappa, and then we both ended up at a Pi Kapp party. We spent the whole night dancing. And then we became best friends. I still see Rachel several times per year since she lives in South Carolina. Bethany and I will reunite in March when Dan and I drive down to Florida!
Related: The Thought That Counts // Birthday Gift Musings
McPhee and I met halfway through my junior year in history class. We became fast friends (and I definitely crushed on him for longer than I care to admit). We often went to Jack-in-the-Box after the library closed and shared terrible fried food. If McPhee was having a bad day, he would call me, and I would start boiling water. Inevitably he would show up at my apartment door to talk to Rachel and me, and we would all sit down with baked goods and hot tea. When I moved to France, McPhee was one of the few people who talked with me regularly, even with the time distance. And then he visited me in France for two weeks! It’s funny to see how much our life paths have crossed, with both of us living in Ohio for a few years, and with McPhee now in Denver, where my extended family lives.
Sally and I studied abroad together in Versailles, but it was the summer before our senior year when we really bonded. We share a love for Disney, Harry Potter, France, writing, and hot tea. We both worked in France our first year out of school, commiserating through the challenges that most people didn’t see. Last summer we walked all over Atlanta together, talking nonstop for hours, and I remembered why I love her so much.
Best friends from France
When I worked in France as an au pair, I became best friends with three other au pairs: Amelia, Jessica, and Chantal. We even have matching tattoos! The four of us are scattered all over the world now, but our tattoos bind our friendship for always.
Related: Soixante-Dix-Huit: a French Love Story
Best friends from Ohio
The summer that Dan and I met is also the summer I met Libbi. We were roommates and co-interns for a summer at Kappa Kappa Gamma Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. It’s weird to realize she’s one of the most recent additions to my bestie list because I feel like I’ve known her forever. I couldn’t have gotten through the last few years without Libbi.
Related: A Toast to Libbi and Henry
Libbi also met her husband that summer, and he’s another one of my best guy friends! Henry was a friend of a friend who came to our apartment for dinner one night. And the rest, as they say, is history! What I love about Henry and Libbi is that I can talk to either of them, alone, for hours. Henry has never been “just Libbi’s husband.” He’s always been one of my best friends too. Plus, Dan and I get along great with both of them! Which is handy since we stay with them pretty much every time we’re in Ohio…
I also met Angela that summer, but the best friendship didn’t commence until we lived together. We’re both feminist nerds (nerdy feminists?) with big hair and big hearts. She also gets along great with Dan, which makes her one of our favorite house guests.
How do you maintain long-distance friendships?
I blog about them and then send them this link. Also social media. And as much friend-time as possible when traveling.
How do you make new friends?
Apparently I don’t since I haven’t made a new best friend since 2012. Although I do have some new really good friends who are at that “will we or won’t we?” friendship stage of maybe becoming best friends.
To be honest I already struggle to see existing friends and family. I don’t even know where to start to make new friends, especially locally. Do my Instagram friends count? And blogging friends? Because I have lots of those, and they are great.
Related: Admiring My Steel Magnolias
Have you ever dated a friend?
Dated, no. Made out with, yes. I would have done more of both given the chance, but honestly, I like my kissing and dating history the way they are. It’s nice marrying your first boyfriend. And Dan doesn’t have to be jealous of any of the men on this list because I neither kissed nor dated any of them!
Meet Your 2018 Love Blog Challenge Hosts!
Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Pinterest // Tumblr // Google+ // Bloglovin
Brita Long is the pink and sparkly personality behind the Christian feminist lifestyle blog, Belle Brita. While her first love will always be Paris, she lives happily with her husband Daniel Fleck in the Atlanta area.
Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Pinterest // Bloglovin // Google+
Kayla Whitter is a 20-something INFJ and Hufflepuff. She works full-time at a local university, goes to graduate school, and runs the lifestyle blog A Paper Arrow. Her favorite things include reading, drinking coffee, eating Chick-fil-A and Mexican food, and hanging out with her hubby and cat (Courage).
Bloglovin // Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest
Charlene is a 20-something wife and fur-mama living in Portland, Oregon. She’s a follower of Christ, watcher of SciFi, reader of fantasy, singer of show tunes, and lover of her husband! She uses her blog, Enduring All Things, to help couples build a marriage that will endure whatever comes their way.
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Tell me about your best friends!
I’ve been best friends with my main lovely lady since we were about 10. I don’t see any of my besties as often as I like (because even my best friend that I made in England lives in another country now) so I rely on skype and whatsapp. But when I see them again it’s like no time has past! x
I remember how hard it was when I lived in France to stay in touch with my besties, especially since it was right after we all graduated, so all of us had multiple long-distance friendships to maintain. I imagine it’s so much harder living in England full-time! It’s hard enough just being in Georgia. My free time is during the typical workday because my evenings are largely dedicated to dinner, chores, my husband, and the occasional conference call. But most people are working during the typical workday…
Aww I loved reading these! Gabrielle reminds me of my best friend from my pre-school days. She was my next door neighbor and our parents still live in those houses so we see each other on occasion when we’re both visiting for the holidays. And it always seems like we never missed a beat!
I didn’t have many friends from school in high school but I was really close with my whole youth group and would definitely call some of them my best friends. And that includes Pearson, my now husband (which means I’ve dated a friend. haha). College was a different story. I had so many deep relationships with so many great people. I miss those days.
Girl. I’m pretty bad at making friends, too. And I’d say I’m bad at recognizing friends like you too. That’s one part of settling into my new home that I’m worried about. But I totally think blog and Instagram friends count for sure! That’s one thing I’m actually really excited for about moving here. I’ve met so many bloggers online that live in the PNW and I’m hoping for a chance to meet them in person!
Thanks for introducing us to all these amazing people, Brita! I’m sure it was fun to walk through memory lane!
Oh and P.S. your Kappa Sapphire Ball dress is amazing!!
I think I’ve told you this before, but I love that you and Pearson are high school sweethearts. Seriously the cutest.
It’s funny that my high school best friendships all developed my junior/senior years. Those middle school friends were dragging me down–it was a rough transition.
It’s really hard to have so many long-distance friends, especially when you’re married. Dan is my #1 priority, meaning he gets the first of my free time. My dad gets the second of my free time. Everyone else has to share the little bit left after that. I did talk to McPhee on the phone last night for half an hour, which was pretty awesome. I might need to just start scheduling one phone call per week… But even then, that would mean talking to each friend 3-4 times per year. It really is hard, but I’m grateful that my friends understand, especially since many of them are struggling with the same thing.
I love this. It’s so sweet! And I love that you have so many best friends.
One of my best friends has been my friend since elementary school, and even though we live about 15 minutes away from each other, we don’t see each other or talk incredibly often, but when we do, it’s like we were never apart. We were both in each others’ weddings, and most recently, I got to go to a 3D ultrasound for her first babe. I love that there are friends like that in the world.
What a sweet thing to experience! It’s so wonderful to have friends who are with you for the big things. <3
This is an adorable post. Friendships come in so many shapes and sizes. There is nothing more special than having someone that “just gets you”. I’ve had many friends throughout my life, some we’ve outgrown each other, some we’ve just lost touch, and some are here to stay forever <3
Yeah, I’ve outgrown some friendships as well, but luckily I can still look back and cherish what we had back then. I’m grateful for the ones forever in my life!
Thank you so much!
I should start doing what you do and send links to my friends I blog about, like the post for this prompt. I’m going to put money on the maid of honour apparent having no clue it even existed.