Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

#Throwback Thursday: National Best Friend Day

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In 2014, I will be participating in #tbt courtesy of the Epson Expression Premium XP-810 Small–in–One printer, the ultimate choice for scanning and printing. Ultra powerful and ultra slim, it produces stunning borderless photos and documents quickly and affordably. Featuring the ultimate in wireless printing, the XP-810 makes it easier than ever to print from your iPad, iPhone, tablet or smartphone, whether in your home or out and about.

Upon waking, I was informed by the #1 and #2 trending topics on Twitter that today is National Best Friends Day. Of course, I have no way of knowing if this is true, as past trending topics have included #RIPOrlandoBloom (he’s very much alive and very much hot) and #WarmWeather (which is of course one of the cruelest hoaxes to Canadians).

Regardless, I saw this as a keen opportunity to pay tribute to my best friend and publish a #tbt post, because frankly, she has been an integral part of my world for more than half my life.

We met in homeroom on the first day of high school – about as fresh of a start as you can get. From the very first moment, I admired her beauty, frankness and her quiet charm – but her popularity frightened me, as I was struggling to develop confidence and stifle the overwhelming fear of integrating in a new school. Hence, although we knew each other, it would be months before we developed a close bond. But once we did, we were inseparable.

Somewhere in my parent’s basement, I have the notes we passed in French class. (She was a horrible French student. I actually feel bad I didn’t make her pay attention more.) But her humorous observations and parade of boy’s names – all drawn with hearts around them of course – were much more interesting than learning a foreign language. She was my style and beauty advisor, adamantly declaring that bangs were so 1991 and showing me the proper way to wear clogs.

One day, she pulled out a tube of lipstick from her pocket, telling me she found it in her garage. It was my first introduction to MAC Cosmetics, and the shade was “Chili”. I went on to wear the hue for two solid years.

Now I could go on, but I’d have to cover 22 years of friendship, and that would fill pages and pages of a novel. And when selecting the photo for this #throwbackthusday, I was presented with the difficult task of choosing one picture from our lifetime of memories.

Should I select a photo of us from high school – or our wild-girl partying days? I have at least 1,000 pictures of us in our twenties – on the beach, in coffee shops, even in underground parking garages. Perhaps I’ll choose a photo from my wedding day, where she served as my maid of honour. Or better yet, a picture of her with Ryder, my first born and her Godson.

In the end, I decided that since it’s National Best Friend Day, and she’s been my BFF since grade 9, I should throw back to our teen years – the way I always see her in my mind’s eye, and will continue to see her until the day I die. As a carefree, sweet girl with a heart of gold. I love you V!

tbt

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Comments

  3. Nicky

    lovely photo! you were (and are!) such beauties, and your friendship is beautiful too!

  4. Lynda Cook

    Two very beautiful girls!! it’s so nice to have the same friendship after so many years, those are the best!!

  8. sarah sar

    Wow, what a beautiful friendship! I wish my BF still lived near me…you are so lucky to have her in your life!

  10. Victoria Ess

    What a lovely story of friendship! It’s great that you have stayed in touch and close for so many years.

  11. Flora M

    You two give BFF real meaning ! I lost touch with a lot of my best friends from elementary and high school. I recently found my best friend in high school through the magic of Facebook (or rather she found me since my name is way less common). We have a lot of catching up to do ;)

  13. Chandra Christine O'Connor

    My best friend, we lived in the same town, we may not see each other much but when we do seems like yesterday

  15. Nicole W.

    Gorgeous photo! You’re so lucky to have a friend for so long! I’ve only maintained relationships with a couple of girls from high school.

  16. Tammy @inRdream

    Beautiful picture! I still keep in touch with my BFF and yes she always will be on my mind. I miss those high school days of having her on my arm :) We aren’t as wild these days it is the kids we are chasing!

  18. Cheryl Grandy

    It’s so wonderful that you’ve remained close. My high school friends are some of my best, too. Beautiful picture.

  19. Judy C (Judy Cowan)

    Great picture! So glad that you have managed to stay close throughout the years, sounds like a very special friendship!

  20. Darlene Schuller

    aww <3 You both are so beautiful! Life gets going and the tree of life branches out, making it difficult sometimes to keep up with others… it's so wonderful to encounter a life long friendship.

    I'm 43 with a 40 year friendship still going.. it's kinda funny cause although we've both aged and contacted on and off over the years.. the 'basics' of us haven't really changed .. at least it feels that way when we talk or hang out!

    • Lena

      I like that Darlene – “tree of life branches out” – kind of feels like all the growing up we did :)

  22. Tricha

    This is a lovely post and a beautiful picture of you and your bestie! Very touching!

  23. Melinda L.

    What a lovely picture. Nothing like BFFs who share so much history and stories together :)

  26. kathy downey

    Two very beautiful young ladies,nothing better than childhood friendship that last through out the years !