Girlfriends.

Tonight I’m thinking a lot about the lovely ladies in my life. I just left dinner with one of my dearest and oldest friends. We’ve been what I can only describe as kindred spirits since somewhere in the middle of 10^th grade in high school. We were in a creative writing class together, and though we had always been in the same circle of friends, we weren’t best friends. But that year we became such, and for the remaining high school years, we were basically inseparable. College took us to different places and our post-college lives started out in different states. She’s one of those people that even though I might not have heard her voice for months, I can hear her in my head just as clearly as if she were by my side. Over the past four years, I’ve had so many of those moments. Someone would say something really funny, and I’d think, “Sarah would die laughing at this.” A friend would hurt me, and I’d think, “Sarah would say something witty and cheer me up.” When I get the best news or the worst news, I know that she’s a reliable sounding board, one of the best qualities in a friend.

Until tonight, it had been a few weeks since I’ve seen her. Her fiancé works crazy hours, she’s working full time and going to school, they have a puppy, and we live about 35 minutes apart. Our lives are full, but tonight reminded me the importance of making time for dear friends.

A few weekends ago, I met one of my best college galfriends (is that a word?) in Hershey for two days to catch up. We talk almost every day, but nothing replaces face-to-face, heart-to-heart time with our closest friends. Time when we put down the phone, turn off the TV, stop multi-tasking and really listen to the needs and joys and concerns in our lives. It needs to be intentional and purposeful. We need more than text messages, Facebook and Skype conversations to have the really deep kinds of friendships my heart is hungry for.

But that takes time and commitment. Sometimes it takes money to fly across the country and vacation days off work and saying no to other people to create space in our lives for these people. All difficult things to do, but so, so worth it.

Tonight I’m so grateful that one of my dearest friends lives in the same city, and I know a hug or a girl date or even a good cry on her couch are only minutes away. But I’m also thinking about the sweet friends in my life that are far away. In Boston and D.C. and Philadelphia. I’m thinking about you and loving you for the special places you have made in my life. And I’m really hoping to see your beautiful faces soon.

To friendships,

Lia