Good Company

My mom says this to me all the time, but it deserves to be repeated: "I don't know what you did in your past life that justifies you being rewarded so well in this one." And it's true. I really don't know why I'm so fortunate. (To be fair, I realize I'm well-blessed and I try to not take things for granted, although I admit I fail at that very often.) Every once in a while, something happens in my life that just drives that point home. This past weekend was one of those moments.

This is an entry about my friends and why I love them like family. I have known many of my closest friends from as long as kindergarten. Most people are lucky to have friends stick by them for 5 years. I've had mine for as long as 15. We grew up together and are very close. People often tell me they can't understand what it must feel to have such close friends for so long. I don't mean to sound condescending, but the fact is I can't imagine how it must feel to not have such close friends for so long. I imagine I would have fallen apart a long time ago without them.

On April 10, one of my best friends held - what I refer to as his "senior project dinner" for his major. It was his big thing and he wanted everyone to be there. One of my friends even flew in from China to be here for it. It was almost a year since "all of us" were together. I took a day off and drove down to Urbana for the weekend. Even though it was only for 3 days, it felt like time slowed and that a week passed. But now that it's all over, I feel like time went by too fast.

I think the most telling evidence during the weekend was that for the first time in a long time, work was an afterthought to me. It did not have any sort of priority. Responsibility number 1 was my friends.

During this time, I saw how important each and every single one of us are to each other. Each of us bring something different to the table and we have the best times together and we are at our best when we're together. And when I think about how when we can't all be together, for whatever reason, there's just this one big pitiful feeling that sits in my gut. Like there will always be something missing. (And it's not gay or whatever. It just works like a wolfpack.)

And as the whole experience is coming to a close, I am doing my reflection. I'm glad to have been a part of it all. The joy and happiness is irreplaceable. I'm grateful to God for my blessing of good friends and good company.