Dear Bestie,
How has it been 25 years? I feel like we blinked, and suddenly, we’re celebrating this milestone – a quarter of a century of friendship. That sounds so official, doesn’t it? But when I think about everything we’ve been through, 25 years feels like a blink. Every memory, every laugh, every text message, and every hug has led us to this point.
I still remember those early years—cheering on the Wildcats at football and basketball games, going on fast food runs afterward, and driving around for hours with no real destination, just music and endless conversations about boys and life. It felt like we had all the time in the world, and somehow, we never ran out of things to say.
Now, here we are – living an hour and a half apart, juggling families and careers, but still as close as ever. We may not be able to text all day long like we used to (thanks to teaching life), but when we do, it’s like no time has passed. I love our Friday adventures with the kids, letting them run wild while we catch up and swap stories. Watching our kids become friends feels like the most natural continuation of everything we’ve built.
Franklin meet-ups, Brown County days, and all those little escapes in between have become some of my favorite memories. No matter how busy life gets, I always know you’re just a call or text away, ready with the advice I didn’t know I needed or the reassurance I was too stubborn to ask for. You’ve guided me through countless big and small decisions, and I honestly can’t imagine where I’d be without your voice in my corner. So many times, your advice, your love, or simply knowing you’re there have pulled me out of a funk. You’ve been my cheerleader when I needed encouragement and my sounding board when I needed to vent. You’ve been honest with me when I needed the truth and gentle when I needed grace. You know me better than most, yet you love me the same—and for that, I’m forever grateful.
We’ve grown up together – from teenagers with big dreams to moms watching our kids create their own memories. And even as life keeps changing, the heart of our friendship hasn’t. You’re still the person I turn to first, and I know no matter how much time passes or how far apart we are, that won’t ever change. I feel like we’ve found this sweet spot where our friendship thrives because, at the end of the day, you’re still my person – my soulmate in friend form.
So thank you—for every piece of advice, for showing up, and for being the friend I can count on through every stage of life. You’re the best friend I didn’t know I needed, and I couldn’t imagine this journey without you.
Here’s to the next decade, to more adventures (alone and with the kids), memories, and moments of just being us. I love you more than words can say.
Love you to the moon and back,
Kelly
