If you haven’t been able to by reading my posts, I’m really into my friends. One of my biggest goals in recent memory was during last summer when I tried to cement friendships with people that I knew I wouldn’t physically be around a lot in the near future. I knew that I was going to, most likely, spend my summer this year in Blacksburg, and not Fredericksburg as I had for the past seven or so years of my life.
I thought it was important to take the time to cement those relationships before a lot of big life changes began to happen, for everyone, as people graduate from school and go in different directions with their lives. The most ironic part about that, in this context, is that one my very best friends doesn’t even live in Fredericksburg, but that’s where we met.
Samy and I met through Rachel Wood, another long time close friend of mine, when I was in the … ninth grade?, and Samy was in the tenth. It was Rachel’s birthday, August 19th, and we both ended up at her party. I remember being really smitten by her Argentinian accent, amongst other things – and from there, the rest really was history.
Some of our most fond memories that kind of built our friendship – ones that we recall like EVERY time we get together – would be eating lunch in high school together, and usually skipping class to go to other lunch shifts in order to do so. When we would get our schedules for the next year, the very first thing we would always do is check and see if we ever had the same lunch shift – and I don’t think we ever did! But we always found a way to share lunch together, and then make up silly excuses for why we weren’t in class when we were supposed to.
So, fast forward a few years and Samy moves to North Carolina soon after she graduates from high school, with her family. And we fell out of a contact just a little bit over the next year or two. She got married, and unfortunately her wedding day was on the same day as my sister’s college graduation – what luck, right? So, I didn’t get to go, but it was okay (even though Samy will never let me forget it). Once I got settled in at Tech though, we’ve been able to make a habit out of visiting each other at least once per semester, since Charlotte really is only about 2ish hours from Blacksburg.
One of the more fun trips was probably going to the ACC Championship with her and Julianne in junior year, as well as coming back for the same game the next year and seeing her a little bit. Then, I turned 21, and with that came a night that she would never let me forget – downtown Charlotte, Epicenter, Whiskey River. Yeah, ‘nuff said. And then the lovely nights spent in Blacksburg, enjoying VT.
Her family has made a solid impact on me too – her mom is one of the strongest women I know and like another mom of my own, always opening her home to me whenever I come to visit. And watching her little sister grow up over the years makes me feel old – even though I’m only 21! Add that to all of the memories and laughs we’ve shared over the years, and I can look at a friend who I not only respect but really love.
Strong relationships are something I think everyone should pride himself or herself on – it’s always rewarding to look at a friendship and realize that the strength of the relationship is a product of the amount of energy that you put into it.
Right now, I sit in the back seat of this car, we are travelling to New York & New Jersey for a weekend trip – good times to be had, I’m sure. Can’t wait for more. Love you Samy. :)
