Butterflies

I have been actively avoiding writing this post for a few days, but I want to get it done, so here goes it.

It seems I'm at the age where every other post on Facebook is about an engagement, wedding, babies, or moving. So many of my friends are entering a state of change, and I, someone who wishes for the days of yesteryear, am not ready for it.

In two days' time, my best friend in the world will be moving three and a half hours south, on her way to be a college freshman. This change will hit the hardest. Miranda has been with me for eight years, and for the first time we will be in complete opposite ends of the state.

During elementary school and a slim part of middle school, we had it easy, because Miranda lived two blocks from me. We walked home together and I couldn't begin to count how many afternoons I spent at her house. There were numerous sleepovers, one being after Family Fun Night in October that doubled as a Friday the 13th party. No one but me had come, but we made the best of it anyway.

When her family decided to move, she had a painting party, (which also included plenty of Vault, our "energy" drink of choice) and we got mischievous by painting a fly, yes a fly, in her old bedroom. That day we also discovered that the stains from those squishy fake eyeballs that we threw on the ceiling were still there. We had a lot of good times in that house.

During one summer, Miranda had to move to Wyoming with her family because of her dad's job. It was tough, but we were still able to talk on the phone, and we even watched the same TV show at the same time. I was elated when they were able to move back to town. 

When we were younger and were having sleepovers with a bunch of us more often, we were the two that stayed up and had deep, theological discussions. (Well, as deep as tweens could get anyway.) 

Then high school came, and it was crazy. I did my best to be the quiet one who read every spare minute. Mir and I only had band and Geometry together, if I'm remembering correctly, but we still had youth group every week. Youth group is what has always been our constant. She invited me in 7th grade, and the first night I was there, even though I had to be a circle, I knew I'd be coming back. Jessica made the place welcoming and fun. After a few years, Jess would like to point out to Miranda how nearly half the youth group was owed to her. Mir had started a chain reaction for inviting people.

I could go on for days about all of the amazing times we had in youth group together, from finger painting on newspaper taped to the wall, to singing the silliest made-up songs, to playing a life-size scaled Clue game. All of it was incredible, and I'm lucky to have those memories.

To everyone embarking on their next great adventure, I sincerely wish you the best of luck.


Dear Mir,

I know I've already written in your yearbook, and I know we don't normally get all mushy, but I just have to tell you how awesome you are. You are the funniest, weirdest person I've ever met. Anyone who has the misfortune to listen in to one of our conversations could never understand this friendship. I'm surprised Dorsey never separated us in math class. 

I'm really no good at goodbyes, and honestly, I hate them. How do you say goodbye to the person you saw every single day for almost a decade? How do you let them leave? You are starting the rest of your life this week, and for the first time, I won't be there to experience it with you. I know we joke about how you'll suck in college, but I know that's a lie. I have seen you grow into the remarkable human being you are today. You will do amazing things in college. You are smart and a beautiful person, inside and out. I will miss you like crazy, but it's not goodbye. It's a see you later. I could never say a goodbye to you, Mir.

Lots of love, 

Ern

P.S.- You really are super-amazing-fantabulous. Never forget it! :-)