Saturday 9: Best Friends with Barbie

Crazy Sam wants to know about friendships, specifically best friends this week in the You've Got A Friend meme. I've never shared her with you before. She's a unique lady. Thanks, Crazy Sam, for reminding me just how special she is. I'd like you to meet her as well.

1. Who is your best friend?

My best friend's name is Barbara. This is a recent pic at her sixtieth birthday bash at the O'Henry Hotel restaurant. She is still the most beautiful woman - inside and out - that I have ever known.

2. How did you meet?

We met at a church service in the 80's where I was singing. Her husband was a Quaker minister at that time. Since I've never been a Quaker I have no idea how we ended up in the same service but I'm so glad we did. We went out to lunch with a large group of people, struck up a conversation, and the two of them became our "couple friends" for many years during my once-upon-a-marriage.
We had a lot of cookouts, beach trips, dinners out and tending to little ones in the early years. I sang at both her children's' weddings. One was in this candlelit castle. Her husband officiated, I cried through the Wedding Song, and then we danced in a moonlit tent. It was lovely and perfect. Her kids (and grandchildren) still seem like my own today. And I promise not to cry in my microphone ever again.....

3. How long have you known each other?

Nearly 30 years. At times it seems longer. And no matter how long it's been since we spoke, we always pick right up where we left off. I can absolutely tell her anything without fear of judgment or worrying about confidentiality. I will always remember one night in the 90's when I was having a particularly rough time with my teenage boy and a failing marriage. It was midnight. I called her. We lived an hour apart. She got in her car, drove to my house, had a talk with junior (she was his third grade teacher...they've always been close), took care of me and then drove back to teach school the next day. A little secret about the ex-preacher's wife: Her way is always to pray F.I.R.S.T. And I've been blessed to be a recipient of those beautiful prayers for nearly thirty years.

I would do the same for her in a heartbeat.

4. Have you traveled anywhere together?

You mean besides the mall? Oh. Well....There were the infamous beach trips with our spouses. Over the years she lost the title of Preacher's Wife while I lost my "wife" title altogether and we're still best friends - even post-divorce which isn't always easy to do when the husbands were close friends as well.

My favorite trip was without our husbands. I hope they aren't reading this...

We took a crazy road trip once to Pennsylvania and explored Amish country, visited friends there and talked nonstop with two other girlfriends in the car. Of course, we got lost on the way up (and back) which added to the drama.
You can't get into a lot of trouble in Amish country, but we tried.

5. Did you ever have a problem over a romantic interest that you shared?

Definitely not. Although she has a LOT to say about my single life and holds nothing back. I won't share! She has an uncanny ability to see straight through a person from the onset. I carry her around with me on every date (like I've had a lot lately. Sigh). But if I ever need her, she's a phone call away with her special vibes..... She should bottle that stuff.

6. Have you ever not liked your best friend’s choice of lovers?

She's been married to the same man for three hundred and forty years. The dancing Quaker man to the left seen here.
How could I not approve?

7. How long since you have seen your best friend?

During the summer..too long. When I started this meme and found the pic of her party, I started missing her and picked up the phone. We talked for an hour. That is why this meme is late!

8. Do you remember each other on birthdays and holidays?

When she turned fifty I threw her a "Barbie Princess Party"at Bloggingham complete with pink Barbie plates and cups and hats. I wish I had those pictures in the computer! But it looked sort of like this with lots of grown-up laughing and remembering. Imagine pink boas and tiarras with blow-up party favors....It was a riot. On second thought, maybe the pictures are not a good idea....We drank too much wine and opened silly presents.

You can never celebrate prissiness enough.

9. What is the biggest fight that you have ever had?

We've never had a fight. It is not in her nature. Not to say we don't disagree. Politically we are at opposite ends of the spectrum but that is not anything to fight over for Heaven's sake. I respect her open-mindedness and we respect each others' varying opinions.
If I told her today "I'm moving to Ecuador to live with a traveling wine salesman with a tattoo," she'd say "Whatever you think, dear. I'll be here when you return!" (smart aleck) Seriously, we've both mellowed over the years and evolved tremendously - having seen each other through lots of trials (some joys, some not). I can't imagine ever finding anything worth fighting over enough to lose our friendship.

I love you, my friend.
Uhh...have you found my website yet?

Perhaps we need to meet for dinner soon. Your birthday is weeks away.
I can't wait that long. I forgot to tell you something! Re-dialing.....I need to know if there are really traveling wine salesmen in Ecuador.
That's what he told me!