"My best friend is moving to Texas Saturday at 5 a.m." Liv wrote in her journal last night. 
So is mine.
So is mine.
"She knows everything about me." Olivia said while snacking on apples earlier this week.
I can totally relate.
"She is like a sister to me." she states daily.
Ditto.
"We like all the same things--music, movies, clothes."
We do, too.
"I've known her for 5 years--that's longer than I've known Audrey."
Me too actually.
Liv and I are saying goodbye to our dearest friends. Together.
I can still feel the air on the late winter grey day when we met.
Liv was 2 and a half. I had a giant belly filled with Audrey.
We were at the neighborhood park. The kids were playing. Life was filled with the excitement of new friendships taking shape.
I can smell the fresh bread Scott makes for our annual holiday gatherings. The buttery almond danish that he hand delivers on Christmas Eve. The fluffy, round rolls he crafts at Easter.
I can taste the Jubelale. And Mac & Jacks. And Snowcap beers that Mary and I both love.
I know the feel of the antique glass on our matching drinking vessels that I fill with our favorite sparkling waters. Anytime I find glasses I love, I always buy 2. One for me. One for Mary.
Liv and I are saying goodbye to our dearest friends. Together.
I can still feel the air on the late winter grey day when we met.
Liv was 2 and a half. I had a giant belly filled with Audrey.
We were at the neighborhood park. The kids were playing. Life was filled with the excitement of new friendships taking shape.
I can smell the fresh bread Scott makes for our annual holiday gatherings. The buttery almond danish that he hand delivers on Christmas Eve. The fluffy, round rolls he crafts at Easter.
I can taste the Jubelale. And Mac & Jacks. And Snowcap beers that Mary and I both love.
I know the feel of the antique glass on our matching drinking vessels that I fill with our favorite sparkling waters. Anytime I find glasses I love, I always buy 2. One for me. One for Mary.
I can hear the laughter of the kids packed into the mini-van as we drive through the dark winter night hunting for Christmas lights.
Or on the way to Nutcracker brunch. Or when we're off to Libby Lu for Halloween hairstyles. Or sitting in the bow of their boat as Scott cut through the water. 
Or when they came running out of the fun house at the local fair. 
I can even remember the 4 of them running together on a long ago trip to the zoo.
I can see Justin pulling Audrey in the wagon...
entertaining on his guitar at Christmas
and shooting hoops outside our front window, roaring down the street on his scooter. I can picture the girls riding bikes at the many Fourth of July celebrations...
and sitting on the front porch bench waiting for their nails to dry. Eric painted them!
and sitting on the front porch bench waiting for their nails to dry. Eric painted them!sharing lollipops, apples, gogurts, crackers, cookies, and on & on!
I can smell the extinguished candles from Baby Jesus Birthday cake on Christmas 
& from the kids many birthday parties
Amanda and Olivia's voices are clear as bells as they perform for us.
& from the kids many birthday parties Amanda and Olivia's voices are clear as bells as they perform for us.
Whenever. 
Wherever.
I know all the words from their cheers at cheerleading camp
songs from bible camp
I know all the words from their cheers at cheerleading camp songs from bible campscriptures from Sunday school, lyrics from High School Musical 2, Hannah Montana, and Hairspray.
I hear the sounds of the cheerios hitting the cereal bowl after a late night sleepover. I can see Amanda coat her cereal with honey and then lean over and do the same for Audrey.
I can relive the handfuls of Halloween carving parties 
(and our pumpkin hunting journey)
...and the moment when all the pumpkins are lit. 
I feel the steaming, soothing water of their backyard hot tub. I can name all the songs that play on our favorite CD that we listen to as we soak. And laugh.
I can easily recall all the talks. The walks. The phone calls. The nights out.
The dinners in. 
The snow days. 
The beach days. 
The ball games watched. The Sunday lunches after church. And none of it feels like enough. I still have so much I want to do with them. So many things to say. So many hugs to share. So many memories to make. But instead we have to say goodbye.
I told Eric it is going to be hard for Olivia. That she may have some very rough days. That she may not understand all her emotions. That we need to be patient. Today. Tomorrow. For a while. For as long as it takes. Because there is nothing like saying goodbye to a best friend. I know.
I hear the sounds of the cheerios hitting the cereal bowl after a late night sleepover. I can see Amanda coat her cereal with honey and then lean over and do the same for Audrey.
I can relive the handfuls of Halloween carving parties (and our pumpkin hunting journey) ...and the moment when all the pumpkins are lit. I feel the steaming, soothing water of their backyard hot tub. I can name all the songs that play on our favorite CD that we listen to as we soak. And laugh.
I can easily recall all the talks. The walks. The phone calls. The nights out.
The dinners in. The snow days. The beach days. The ball games watched. The Sunday lunches after church. And none of it feels like enough. I still have so much I want to do with them. So many things to say. So many hugs to share. So many memories to make. But instead we have to say goodbye.I told Eric it is going to be hard for Olivia. That she may have some very rough days. That she may not understand all her emotions. That we need to be patient. Today. Tomorrow. For a while. For as long as it takes. Because there is nothing like saying goodbye to a best friend. I know.
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