Season of Thanksgiving #8 – Mandy
See, I had two best friends growing up. And Mandy is one of them. James is my brother, Mandy is my sister. You want two people who have seen each other through a lot? Well, here we are. Mandy has seen me through my roughest and darkest hours, and I have been by her side for hers. Our Algebra II study sessions in Borders turned into a 15 year friendship. One where we’ve been part of each other’s weddings, where I’ve been there for the birth of her two children (whom I adore). Where I acted like an overprotective big brother against the man who is now her husband (he’s Remington approved now). Where she was always a phone call away to keep me company when I was at my loneliest (and vice versa).
Our friendship is the kind where sitting on the couch, watching a movie, eating ice cream and not saying a word was perfectly okay (I guess that makes me a big girl). We can have entire conversations without saying anything. Years go by, people make new lives, but I can still talk with Mandy as if we were still in high school. It’s rare to be part of a friendship where the other one always knows exactly what to say (or not to say). Seems that we ended up being a part of each other’s lives for a reason. Not sure what exactly, but for two people so different to come together and be friends for this long takes some divine intervention. All these years later, we’re both in such different places and yet we’re not. Both happy. And both happy to see that the other is happy. Do I need to say Happy again?…Happy. I’m thankful for what has been a truly eventful and unique friendship so far and I’m thankful to know that no matter what, she’ll always be there.
And NO, we never-ever dated. I know that most male-female friendships always have some sort of romantic history at some point (thanks to every movie ever). There was no dramatic scene where I ride in on horseback to dramatically interrupt the “speak now or forever hold your peace” part. No, I was standing by her side, THRILLED she found someone to spend her life with…just like she was by my side a year later when it was my turn to get married. It is entirely possible for a man and a woman to have a completely platonic relationship. Shocking, I know.
Next Up: James
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