FRIENDS that LAST

My first week of 6th grade, I met this girl with this name I had never ever heard of. She looked like she was sizing me up, while a mutual friend introduced us. We've been friends ever since. It was like we were joined at the hip. We were very different, but even at a young age, had a similar mindset with similar goals. We both wanted an education and success, regardless of our backgrounds and situations we were born into. People who knew her knew me.

High school came around and we met a swan. This young lady was the goofiest of both of us and we became a trio of friendship. (She's still the goofy)! Ya know, sometimes adding one more to the group doesn't always work. It didn't for me at first, but today I know the importance of sticking with it aka patience. With time, we all grew, changed and became best friends. We stayed friends because we had similar goals we were aiming for. We're all really good bffs today as adults. That's almost half of our lives. I think that-there is proof that young black women can maintain healthy relationships with each other. Ka-Pow! to the stereotypes amongst us.

It's so important to build history in your friendships. How can you carve out a life of healthy relationships if you don't have history with people that (started from the bottom now we here - lol) remind you of where you've been and where your going. The book of Proverbs in the bible gives wisdom about many things, as King Solomon is the book's author, and he writes about friendship.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the hearts, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. (27:9)

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (27:17)

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (18:24)

I remember as we all were coming into our womanhood, we went out to dinner at a steakhouse. The service and food was terrible, but we were out to have a good time. I remember laughing at the waiter a lot because of his outfit. Everything in the restuarant was so western; big slabs of wood for tables; cowboys boots and hats on the waiters; and a "boring atmosphere". We were in funny conversation of course and I was drinking and talking. Someone told a joke about our waiter and my body errupted in laughter uncontrollably; my water flew from my mouth into my friends faces. They look disgusted, but not mad. I couldn't believe I'd done that to them. I was so embarrassed and the worst part was I couldn't stop laughing. As I was trying hard to calm down I kept apologizing. I thought they were so mad at me, but hiding it, as us girls tend to do. I kept apologizing and laughing and they took it well. They wiped themselves off and kept the night going.

I remember leaving thinking, "I have some really good friends. Now that I've practically slobbered all over them, I have no choice but to keep them around and be a good friend right back." We all truly love each other. I have no doubt that no matter where life takes all of us, we'll still be friends. We'll still have memories. We'll still make history. Together.

+Lee Hurn

Have a Happy New Year!!! ~Lemonade Curl~