“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~ Marcel Proust
BFFs Forever
I recently met a friend and her daughter at a local park to take photos of the girls together. They have been in the same class since pre-k and are going into First Grade after the summer. They adore each other and were super excited about having a playdate together. We met at the main entrance and walked down a pathway that winds all the way through the park. There are lots of tall, willowy trees, squirrels, walkers, bikers, and a couple of dog parks. The girls started out looking for squirrels and I snapped pictures as they went along.
I would love for my kids to have some childhood friends that they stay in contact with throughout life. I had a friend back when I was a little girl who I met at Montessori School. Our parents were friends and we spent a lot of time together. We dressed alike, and even got our ears pierced together. When I was around the age of five, I moved from Miami to England. Not being old enough to foster the relationship, my childhood friend and I lost touch. Fast forward to adulthood, and Facebook reconnected us. Our mother’s still see each other from time-to-time, but my friend and I are just Facebook buddies now.
The friend I’ve had the longest, who I am still in regular contact with, is my friend Rebecca. We met at boarding school just outside of London. We were eleven-years-old. We did lose contact for a few years after I went off to college, but were reconnected by my sister who ran into Rebecca in London. I was fortunate to be able to attend her wedding, and her daughter is named after me.
We will go through periods of time where we may not speak or text for weeks, sometimes even months, and due to geography, we go for years not seeing each other in person. The great thing is when we do reconnect, it is as though no time has passed. I know that even though there are thousands of miles between us, if I ever need someone to talk to, cry to, vent to, or laugh with, she is there, and vice versa.
I think the generations growing up today with all the social media platforms get confused over what a “friend” is. Just because they are “friends” online doesn’t mean they are friends in real life. Just because someone goes to your school, or church, doesn’t mean they are your friend. My older daughter went through some things in middle school with some of her supposed “friends” that resulted in lots of tears and heartache, and it was one of the most difficult things I have had to watch her go through. Children can be so cruel sometimes.
As I spent that morning at the park, watching my youngest daughter and her BFF running, playing, giggling, and squealing, I was reminded of the kind of friendship we all deserve. A friendship where one can be themselves, let their hair down, and run free together. Free from peer pressure, free from being “cool”, free from judgement. It was a beautiful morning and one of the times I’m most grateful to do what I do. I was able to capture their sweet smiles and freeze their innocence, if only for a short while.
