What to do when your Best Friend is in Alabama

I read the following letter online and it really hit home. Hayden Brooks Rizer this entire post is dedicated to you and our crazy friendship.





Dear Soul Mate/Mind Reader/Other Half,

This sucks. I thought I would be used to it by now, but I'm not. It has been a few years already, but I still wish we had ended up at the same college. I know we are both having the time of our lives, and the times when I get to see you are so special, but sometimes I wish I could just jump through FaceTime and give you a huge hug.

When I first met you in high school, I never would have imagined that we would be best friends. After we realized that we were practically the same person, we were inseparable. From passing notes in class, to complaining about the food every day at lunch, and going to countless high school parties, we took on the world together. We were partners in crime, and I never thought there would be a time where I did not see you every day.

But we grew up. We graduated high school. We -- well, I -- bawled like a baby and we hugged our teachers one last time. We cherished our final summer together before college, which was one of the best summers of my life.

Freshman year passed. Sophomore year came and went. We saw each other on long weekends, holidays, stalked each other on Facebook, and had five-hour phone conversations when we had the time. Like a long-distance relationship -- face it, we are practically dating -- we made it work. It was not always easy. I made countless new friends when I joined a sorority, and you got involved with so many organizations on campus that you also had a new friend circle. But we never forgot about each other or the bond we share, because that bond is like no other.

This summer, I realized how much we had grown up. We outgrew most of the activities we used to do in our hometown, but we still did them anyway, for old time's sake. We realized how much we meant to each other, and we both cried when the time came to go back to our respective schools.

Recently, I've been missing you more than usual. I hear a throwback song on the radio and it reminds me of our ratchet red solo cup days. I pass a restaurant we used to frequent and I am brought back to our first grown-up dinner dates downtown. I buy an outfit for a social and remember dressing up for our crazy Halloween parties. I like every single one of your pictures on Facebook. I see you making memories as I am making mine. But I am so happy that we are still best friends, despite the distance.

You don't know every detail of my life anymore, and I might not know your latest gossip. But, with winter break just around the corner, I am sure our days will be filled with playing catch-up and sipping bottomless gingerbread lattes. Even though we don't see each other every day, I just wanted to remind you how special you are to me. Keep rockin' your school and having the best time. You better have good stories for me, because I have plenty for you, girlfriend!

Love always,
Your bestie

  

"Even though we change and we're off finding our own place in the world, we know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not still friends."

With our birthdays only a few days apart and sharing basically the same initials, we were bound to be best friends. It has absolutely been killing me and I often find myself crying on the long drive home (because DC Traffic sucks and you know I get road rage) because I can't curl up and watch Netflix with you and I can't be there for you when you are going through this rough patch in life.

However, as you know me and the Finn blabber, I mean daughter, that I am, I have decided to make a list of all the reasons I love you and why clearly we are destined to be soul mates for life regardless of where we wind up. Enjoy the tears boo because I'm crying as I write this, but let's be real, these are all spot on. Buzzfeed and all those other sites don't have ANYTHING on us. LOVE YOU

• I love knowing the fact that no matter the time of day, you always answer my phone calls or call right back. And let's be real, a lot of those might have been at 1:30 am, 2:30am, 3:00am (yikes) because when I'm the drunk, emotional white girl, talking to you makes everything better regardless of the situation.

• Also, speaking of phone calls, talking to you on the phone just immediately makes me more comfortable. I can't count the numerous times I made those late night walks and talked to you the entire way and whether it is a long chat or a quick 2 minute chat, you always make yourself available and talk regardless of how pointless or how long the conversation is. 

• You are the only person who can name and number every single one of my obnoxious laughs and you don't tell me to shut up when 50 of them come out at once.
• I can't stay down around you because you know the PERFECT throwback song to play to turn my frown upside down.

• Every single car ride, rain or shine, is with the windows down, blaring music and screaming along. Poor pedestrians along Wade Avenue and in Cameron Village were probably scared for life. The poor Jeep....
• The rush of exhilaration we felt as we made our weekly Char-Grill Runs (and of course, being the perfect best friend that you are, you never judged me for the insane amount of food I consumed) and rushed back to campus trying to beat the gates.
• We can't be seen in public together. People just don't get us.

 

• Regardless of how hectic our lives get, you have never ever missed a birthday or holiday and send the most thoughtful unexpected gifts.
• You know about every boy I have ever "talked to", how crazy or stupid they were, and could immediately tell the second I got annoyed and tired of them.
• You know about my family and how crazy we are.
• You even know about those insane philosophy professors who always seemed to make me cry and yet you reminded me that they were probably just jealous because I was smarter than them.
• Our first time getting drunk was together off of one Cherry Coke and Malibu at a lame excuse for a bonfire.
• You have chronicled every embarrassing moment that has ever happened to me and have been witness to at least 80% of them.



• Our iMessage chats constantly look like this:

 



• We've perfected understanding the time difference that separates us (only an hour but still, it's drastic).
• Any time any past name or acquaintance comes up on social media we immediately call or screenshot each other to fill in the other and sadly, most of the time, the other already knows (LOLZ)
• We've both seen each other make good friends at our colleges that are forever apart and have even been fortunate enough to meet some of them. Yet I'm jealous they get to spend weekends with you and Netflix and cookie dough dates and not me. But least most of them are good stand-ins for me, lezbehonest.
• Too often we have to schedule a time to talk but the spontaneous chats are the ones I love most.
• You are the only who has truly ever appreciated and respected my crazy, hectic schedule that is go go go and yet you somehow decided to still be friends with me and find plenty of time for our dates.
• Throughout all of high school, you never missed one of my home games during volleyball, basketball, or soccer season. Even when you hated the coach, I knew I could always count on you to be there on the bleachers cheering obnoxiously and embarrassing me. But also being the first person to come over and squeeze me and say your classic line "good job girrrrrrrrrl. looked good out there!"
• You always give me good advice and usually the advice I honestly need to hear, yet you never judge. You know me inside and out like no one else and you can always tell me what is right for me, whether I realize and admit it or not.
• I can honestly feel how proud you are of me and all my accomplishments and the adult that I'm becoming. Yet you still encourage my immature side when necessary.

 

• You were my go-to North Hills dates, always making fun of the teeny-boppers.
• Every big movie experience we shared together (Mean Girls, Wedding Crashers, etc.)
• Ugly isn't even a word in our dictionary anymore because we've seen each other at our absolute best and our absolute worst (thanks to Snap Chat)
 
• You embrace my awkwardness.
• Too many times we took control of each other's social media accounts, often hilarious but sometimes upsetting.
• You are so passionate and inspiring to watch Hayden. Children love you and you love what you do. You're going to do great things in this world.
• Also, pups. You make an excellent and patient mother.
• Whenever we have a rough patch in life, the two of us somehow always manage to make a joke of it, and maybe that's what's kept us on the right track over the years.
• Remember the thousands of Microsoft Exchange emails we used to send on the Smarie's tablets during class? (Points?! OOPS!)
• Whenever I have an adult decision  to make or bill to pay, you're my go to at first. Especially when it comes to complaining about our cars.
• You still chose to be friends with me even after witnessing freshmen year Haley, middle part, braces and all. To this day I still have no idea why but I'm so lucky you hung around.

 

• Pretty sure we call each other first before we call mom to let her know we're sick and refuse to leave bed.
• Whenever I feel down about myself, whether it's my weight, classes, or the ever present question of what the hell am I going to do with my life, you're always inspirational and push me right back on my feet.
• All of our texts are NOVELS not blurbs because we both always have too much to say.

Through all the insanity and uncertainty, I know our friendship is pure and true (cue the water works). Our friendship doesn't need the 24/7 conversation, and seeing each other every weekend. There are probably a million more things I could say and who knows, maybe they'll be an edition 2 to this blog but I wanted to take a little time today to let you know I'm thinking of you bestie and I love you and am always here for ya no matter the distance or situation. Call me, beep me, if ya wanna reach me. 

 

 

Besos,

Haley