Up until the past 2 years, I never had a boyfriend or a best friend. I had good friends, certainly, but never one person I would have called my “best friend forever.” Now, I am blessed with the most amazing boyfriend ever, and the best friend I could ever hope for.
Lane met me at the airport when I came back to Illinois on January 10. It was indescribably wonderful to actually be able to spend time with him, to hold his hand, and to see his smile with no pixelated Skype screens obscuring our vision of each other. He was only here a couple days, at which point I finally started unpacking and putting my life together.
Less than a week later, I drove up to Minnesota to see his home. We also went with a group of his friends (and brother) to the Sonshine music festival. Again, I treasured that time getting to know him through his relationships with his friends and family.
Shortly after getting back, my former roommate and best friend forever, Emily, started planning a trip here. It was a rather spur-of-the-moment trip when we realized we had a short window of time when the time frame would work for us both. So, for the past week, she visited my home here in Illinois.
We also drove up to Minnesota to see Lane and get a taste of life and fun on his farm. By a “taste” I mean that we learned how to shoot various guns, climbed around in a grain bin full of corn, drove a tractor, and got lost in a cornfield. All in 1 day.
There is something wonderful and fulfilling about a visit from a friend from BFA, and something uniquely special about having not just any friend, but my best friend visit. I had seen her home last summer, and now she has seen my home. We have entered each other’s lives in 3 locations. Shared experiences are so helpful in deepening or strengthening a friendship. I am so grateful for Emily and her friendship! And I’m even more grateful for the way the 3 of our lives have intersected in both Germany and Minnesota.
