Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Tonight I said Good-bye

This evening I said good-bye to my best friend. I know this statement makes it sound as though I've lost my dear Robin to a cross country move or worse. In actuality, she and her family are moving only 30 minutes away. But this is my best friend who for the past eight and a half years has lived across the street.

I remember meeting Bill and Robin the first time. They had recently moved in and on a fall day they, a young married couple with no children (just like us), were outside in their front yard with their new puppy. We walked down and introduced ourselves. In a short amount of time we realized we had been living in the same apartment complex for months! (So had Michele - I knew that.)

I remember as we became friends, having them over for dessert or dinner.

I remember their puppy and our new puppy racing around our kitchen late one night as we all played a board game together.

I remember an early outing with Robin - going to Garden Ridge together while Bill was out of town!

I remember them coming by the house as they left to go out of town to meet our first baby Jacob, just days old.

I remember Robin being on bed rest when she was pregnant with Alex. I would come entertain her (he he) and that was when I got her involved in rubber stamping (I know you love me, Bill).

Out very first camp out (was that the only one?). What fun!

Such early memories!

And then there were the many quilting nights when Robin or I would carry our sewing machine across the street and work till midnight. We always laughed at what we must look like crossing the street with sewing machines.

And the coffee nights. One of us would come across the street after the kids were in bed. We'd sit and sip and laugh and even whine. Sometimes we'd swap both ways. Robin and I would enjoy coffee at one house while Bill and Brian would have a beer out by the fire pit! Too fun!

And the Bible study down the street that Robin and I agreed to BOTH go to. As a result we made beautiful friends and learned so much!

And the countless times when we would stop by and swap Gatorade or Pedialyte and Saltines after someone had decided to throw up. In hindsight it seems that the other person always had what was needed.

And the times we watched their dog while they were out of town. And the time they watched our caterpillar - we won't say anymore about that one. And I only locked myself out of their house once!

So many happy memories!

The dinners in our backyards, the birthday parties at each others houses, the baby showers hosted for each other.

Our grocery nights together on Mondays!

The many times I always called needing an egg, some molasses, an egg, some milk, an egg, some sugar, or an egg. It seems we were back and forth all the time with something.

The time I called her on their way to Ohio because I needed lasagna noodles - like now! Thankfully I had a key and thankfully she had some! The time Robin called me on the way to Co-Op because I left our garage open!

My favorite old TV show has always been "I Love Lucy". I was raised on it. I know every line. I always thought what fun it would be to live like Lucy and Ethel. Never would I have believed that Lucy and Ethel would be Robin and Celeste. You'll have to ask Robin who's who. :))

I can't believe our dear friends are gone. I know we won't be here forever either (we almost moved before they did last spring!), but it is amazing to look down the street tonight and know this time in our lives is over.

Robin, dear, you are my best friend and I think with age and maturity comes a different kind of "best friend"ship than I remember in High School. Our friendship has a strong foundation and though we are entering a new time in our lives, it will endure. I love you bunches!

I am thankful to God that he brought us here in September of 99 and had Bill and Robin follow so shortly after. What a wonderful, fun time it has been. What a blessing!

(I am so sorry, Robin, this was the best one I could find!)

1 comment:

Melissa said...

Oh, Celeste, this post made me want to cry! What a special blessing to have found such a friend in Robin. You two were so lucky to have met at such a special time in your lives! How awesome that your friendship grew right along with your family sizes! I know you two will miss each other very much (because, even as you say, it's not cross country but it's no longer right across the street, either!) How wonderful, though, to have so many fun and happy memories to share. I so enjoyed this small peek into your friendship. :)

Hugs to you, friend!