This is my best friend Charlotte.
Charlotte doesn't have a middle name, but she if she did it would be Ann"e". The name Charlotte is the feminine form of Charles. This is important information to know. Charlotte is a 5'4'' dark blonde/light brown bombshell with curves of Aphrodite and the voice of Ariel, my favorite mermaid. She likes salt water taffy, exotic foods, and jogging while holding hands with her husband, Joe.
Charlotte and I met freshman year in college. We were among 5 roommates in apartment-style dorm living at BYU. She cut her like Winona Ryder and swore off boys. She once wore the same mangy gray sweats for a week straight. She might have worn her lesbian, airbrushed "Changes" t-shirt with it, I can't remember. One time she wore a dress slip to class, but that was Junior year. Charlotte made me laugh for real when I was homesick, miserable, and applying for a U of O transfer. We made up ice cream flavors and and spent the night on campus in sleeping bags. She helped my cocooned personality unravel into what it is today. For this she earned my ultimate gratitude.
Charlotte likes to be silly. She brings out the silly in me. Together we can be goofy beyond comprehension. I love being dorky with Charlotte. Sophomore year I dared her to jump a chain link fence while jogging and she did. She almost cleared the fence, but in a critical moment her two feet caught the top and she pummeled forward face first. Her jaw was wired shut for the next six weeks. She never blamed me. She never even looked at me cross eyed for the stupid dare. Instead she laughed easily as we pureed strawberry shortcake for her to sip from a straw. For this she earned my never ending trust.
Charlotte has witnessed and participated in countless climatic junctures in my life. She had box office tickets to my fall into love with Billy. When I came home one night, emotionally torn and spent from hours praying about marrying him, she calmly said "Becca, if you want to marry him, you can." That is what I needed to hear. We ordered pizza afterwards and all anxiety and fear left my troubled heart. When I was just weeks pregnant with Liam, timid yet excited for the adventure ahead she revealed that she too was pregnant. Our bellies grew and our perspectives changed into a Mother's together. For this we understand each other in infinitely greater ways.
A post on Charlotte could never fully convey her beauty, her talents, or the special peculiarities that make her a perfect best friend. I cannot write of her creativity and complications and shyness combined with enthusiasm without sounding trite. But today is her birthday and she is twenty-five, a quarter of a century. And I want everyone to know how cool she is and how much I love her.
Did ya hear that Charky? I love you!
4 comments:
what a sweet post! She is lucky to have you for her best friend!
Beautifully written and all true. You both are two of the most beautiful women I have ever met.
That almost made me cry. You're a great friend.
Happy Birthday, Charlotte! :)
It's been 6 days. I don't care if you're in labor. I need more posts. :)
Did you know that you can make your blog private? A friend of mine just started one and she does that (you just have to "invite" your friends/family so they can see it). Just a thought since I know you worry...
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