Family by blood, Friends by choice.

Seeing how my best friend Brittany turns 26 today, a post seems fitting to explain just how incredible this woman is. Not only is she the absolute best friend anyone could as for, she's family. Our mother's are sisters so we had no choice but know each other since diapers. We never were close as little kids. It was fourth grade when the friendship side of it blossomed. We ended up in the same class together. We were almost instantly separable. In fact, my mom, siblings and I moved in with them for quite awhile. We were roommates, cousins, friends and almost like sisters. That was until a sudden family change caused our mothers to hate each other. More specifically, her mother to hate mine. Hate is a strong word, as they've made their amends. (Back then, it was pure hate). From the time my mother ended up with Brittany's dad, we could only see each other during school hours. We were no longer 'cousins' and no longer seeing each other outside of those weekday hours. That still didn't change our bond. In fact, it got to the point if one of us weren't in school the teachers were asking "Where is she?". Ya, that kind of friendship.

I don't want to get too much into the family issues with my mother and aunt simply because it's not my story to tell and I want no hard feelings if they happen to stumble upon my website and this post. After a couple of years of no speaking terms for the sisters, me being a young child still, I decided we needed to fix this problem because I wanted my best friend back. I messaged my aunt on yahoo messages and lied to her. I knew my mom missed my aunt, and I didn't lie about that part. I lied about the part where she wanted to bring the kids to play and have a cup of coffee while smoothing things over. It was probably the only time that lying was ever acceptable. It worked. Kind of. I had my friend outside of school again, and my other 3 cousins along with it. Things have never been the same for the sisters, but the family struggles Brittany and I faced have made us closer. No one can understand what we went through, unless you went through it. Simply because we were all such a tight knit family. Anyways, lets fast forward.

Highschool, she moved to Waldoboro. She wanted change and to be with her twin who had moved before her. We still stayed as close as we could with distance. Eventually, She moved back to Stonington (my hometown) and moved in with my household. We were roommates once again. It was nice. It doesn't get much better than living with your best friend! We spent all our spare time together pretty much. When we became young adults, we had the great idea to get a rent together. It would be even better without parents, right? WRONG. See, we are complete opposites. She's more organized, careful and reasonable. I on the other hand am a bit messy, wild and seem to hate control. I was 18. I wanted to party as I was very sheltered growing up. (I thank my mom for it now). A few months into living together, me partying all the time just caused a lot of problems for her. Not me, I didn't see an issue with the constant traffic in our house and the nightly beer pong on our kitchen table. She moved back to Waldoboro because me being the bitch I am. I refused to stop. It was my house too and I was sure to remind her of that. It almost ruined our friendship.

Awhile later, we both ended up back at moms. (no place like home, lol). We started to amend the friendship we once had. It wasn't the same for quite along time. I ended up pregnant and thats when I started to calm down. I realized life wasn't what I had been living. I saw how she saw life. We both now have our own homes, our own long term relationships and I have kids. As adults and us both more with the same type of mindset, we are better friends than we have ever been. She's a sister to me. An aunt to my sons. She's there at the drop of a dime. One of the ONLY people I can count on 110% to never do me wrong. She's helped shape me, helped me discover that 'friends' aren't always what they seem. They're the ones there when you're not on top. They drag you from the bottom actually. I'd be a complete mess without her in my life. So, Happy Birthday Brittany. You're the best friend a woman could ask for.