Happy Birthday! Not me, my best friend

My friend Holly and I have been close friends since we were 4!  We have been friends for over 38 years now, you do the math.  We got along so well that we were even room mates in college, bridesmaids in each others weddings and despite going to College out of state together, we both made it back to our beloved Bay Area and are easily within driving distance of each other.  

 Holly and I went to rival high schools, but were always at church together.  (try not to judge my hair, it was the 80's and I have always been follicly challenged)

 We even got to take a trip to New York with our church group, we were very mature, NOT!

Our college dorm

Yikes, that perm is still there! (Why didn't someone do a hair intervention with me???)

Our (1st) apartment, we were whooping it up, Mormon style, with Corn on the cob, yes we know how to party!  (it was a running joke, and it was pretty fun)

As you know, a lot happens in 38 years, most of the important stuff in the last 20.  We have seen each other through births, (and the trouble getting those kids), family ups and downs, loss of  our dads, (both of us), job struggles and gains, the happiest moments and the lowest of the lows.  I am actually getting all verclempt writing this post.  You see, not everyone has a chance to have a friend that they still LOVE to be around, since they were 4 years old.  When we were both newlyweds, we actually even lived three doors down from each other in the same apartment complex (that smelled like boiled cabbage all the time, hey we were poor then).

Here is Holly whooping it up at my wedding (I think it was too wild, so the hung back to watch)

After the honeymoon, we settled into our luxury apartment:

Apparently Russian immigrants could get a good deal on this place, hence the boiled cabbage:

  A Christmas get together on a train ride

Holly and I have a tradition that we have kept since as long I as I can remember, we get together to celebrate each other's birthdays, and our families get together at the holidays.  Today was my turn to take Holly to breakfast.  We always go to the same place, "Millie's Kitchen", we even went there sometimes in High School, (I guess we both have an issue with change).  

Today's Celebration, (finally my hair looks normal)

Although  I don't get to see Holly as often as I would love to, when we get together, it is like time falls away and we are right back where we just left off.  Today, and every day, I am so grateful for a friend like Holly.  I can honestly say, there is precious little this girl doesn't know about me, hasn't seen me do (yikes even the college silliness), and knows all my little personality quirks.  And she still loves me!  

If you have a friend you have had since your childhood, call them and tell them how much you love them and how much you appreciate them.  These friendships are rare and precious and should never be taken for granted.