Friends

Friends, the real ones, are fewer and further than they ever were. This summer I am witnessing 7 people I know move on to their next phases of life while I stay where I am. There is a future blog where I will undoubtedly host a pity party for one, but for now, I will celebrate the fact that I love and am loved my some seriously wonderful people.

Andy is a guy I never anticipated liking. He was in a night class my second semester of grad school, and he was way too smart for his own good. I guess that is still true. He is book-smart, but that is not where his amazing-ness ends. Andy's faith and his search for God and his willingness to talk to me about things that I don't talk to most people about still inspire me. When I found out about the cancer, Andy was one of the first people I called. Andy is real and wonderful and prays with vehemence and faith that I hope to one day have. Knowing people like Andy helps my faith grow. Andy goes to Maryland to get his PhD and to be the hot, smart guy with an ear for music, a lean for good films, a penchant for esoteric blogging, and the guy who will always answer emails.

Mike and Liz moved to Memphis in pieces. Mike came first and we met in out first ever graduate class. He and Liz got married over fall break of that first semester and she came to Memphis, too. I always wanted to get to know Liz better, and I know that I will always regret that we weren't better friends. She is a really creative and talented artist, and I wish her the best as she starts graduate school. Mike put up with me, listened to me break down, tolerated my chattiness, offered really good advice, and when I told him that he was my best friend in Memphis, he laughed. It's still true, and yes, it's still funny. The talks, the frustrations, and the genuinely happy moments are all better because Mike was there. As I look back on those wonderful basement times, Mike is everyone of them. Mike and Liz go to Knoxville where they are homeowners, and I think that makes them grown-ups at last. Don't tell them that.

I did not like Julie when I met her. She was loud, obnoxious, and she ate extra cheesy Doritos and drank Diet Coke next to me in our Philosophy class until I wanted to choke her. A hundred tears and a million laughs later, she is the person that knew the Memphis-me better than anyone and loved me anyway. She is a wonderful soul that wears a tough-girl face and a hard shell, but underneath she is the most loving and delightful person. She cares about people even when they don't give her a reason to care. Julie goes to Florida to work on her PhD and be the girl that wanted it all and got it.

Sarah and Brian are the holders of my heart. Brian married Sarah and no one could figure out why a guy like him would marry a girl like her. I tried to describe it one of those nights before her wedding during one of mine and Sarah's marathon phone calls. I haven't ever been able to repeat what I said, but I will attempt it here. Sarah is organized, ambitious, steadfast, strong, solid. Brian is versatile, accomadating, thoughtful, trusting, soulful. They are made of the same things, but they are different at the same time. Sarah is ice and Brian is water. Alone, one thing is not enough, but when put together, they are refreshing and satisfying. My friends are ice water to my sun-drenched soul. Sarah and Brian go to Nashville where Brian will work towards becoming a nurse practitioner while working as a nurse. Sarah will teach Literature at a Davidson county school and adventurously begin law school as she looks to her next goal of being a lawyer. I don't think Nashville is big enough for the both of them. I don't think the world is either.

Life is change, and with some sadness and a lot of happiness, I am looking at these changes with joy for the journeys of all these people that I love so much. They will touch more lives than they will know, and I will be happy knowing that my life is made fuller because of them. May good luck, blessings, and friends as good as you are fall into your lives the way you all have fallen into mine!