Today is my best friend’s birthday.  Not a milestone birthday, just a birthday.

We have been friends since the second grade, age 7.  We grew up together and went to school together.  Her mom and my mom were our Girl Scout leaders.  I can’t remember what I had for breakfast but I still know both her old home address and phone number.

Friends like this don’t come along every day.   After all, who else would get up with me in the dark, in the woods and go to the outhouse holding the flashlight in the pitch black dark?  In all fairness I sat through many of her school lunches while she ate potato soup, not my favorite, but she was!

As time passed and we grew up, she was my bridesmaid, and I was hers.  She taught my kids when they were 3 and 4 years old and it was the only way I was able to let them go. We were together thru many of life’s lessons and thank God always came out stronger on the other side.

I haven’t spoken with her in a while, not for any particular reason other than life gets in the way. I called her tonight and left a message wishing her a happy birthday.  I sent a silly card too.

The reason I write this? Simple.  Good friends don’t need to be attached at the hip or in constant contact in order to be a friend. People say how they could go months and pick right back up where they left off. We are that kind of friend… we should all have that kind of friend.

I miss you Shell and I wish you the very happiest of birthdays. To everyone else- goodnight, and tell a friend you love them.