For my dear friend Colby at Christmas...

Dear Colby,

We've known each other since second grade - those carefree days of glitter and googly eyes and singing off-key in music class. We quickly moved through elementary school together, being harassed by the same icky boy in third grade and crushing on the same cute boy in fifth grade. I also remember the school Christmas play that year - "Pharaoh, pharaoh, o-oh, oh, let my people go! NO! Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah!" Then in sixth grade, we both got big parts in the Christmas play (am I remembering this right?) - we were angels in real life after all, so it was a minor stretch to act as one. I don't remember your part, but I was Cherry, head of the Cherubim. And oh the excruciating pain of having to recite "Paul Revere's Ride" in its entirety in front of the whole class that year...

Sometime in middle school, we made all new different friends and didn't hang out as much. After all, cheerleaders didn't associate with dance teamers (*wink wink*), so our love was doomed from the start. But screw them, we stayed friends anyway, and we found a group of mutual friends in highschool that allowed us to hang out more. And even though we only won trivia that one time, it was still worth going all those months just to hang out. I was so glad our boyfriends were friends, so that we could ride in the same limo to prom. I hated that you skipped our senior year, only because I didn't have anyone to sit with and make fun of people on a regular basis anymore, but I think I was more upset that you couldn't take me with you.

You have no idea how much it meant to me that we stayed friends through the turmoil of "you know what," and that you fought for me to be a bridesmaid at your wedding despite the predicted immaturity of others. I'm sad that we have drifted apart so much - especially when I think back to all those times of choreographing routines to Jock Jams music. Every time I hear "I Try to Think About Elvis" by Patty Loveless, I remember us performing in front of your parents in their living room. And I still remember all the lyrics to "Whoop, There It Is" because of the hours we spent mouthing it while we kicked and spun in your backyard.

But I know that in some distant way, we're still connected and we'll always be friends. Even if we can only make time for lunch every once in a while.

You, dear Colby, have inspired me on a regular basis, and you have supported me when a lot of other didn't. So here's a whole post devoted to you for Christmas.

I even found this great video that reminded me of this post you wrote:

I heard this song on the radio station this morning, and I immediately thought of you.

Note to Self: Merry Christmas to my favorite cheese.