Kathleen

I remember the first time I was introduced to my best friend Kathleen. We were on a school bus on our way to a basketball game somewhere in Oregon. My twin sister, Hilary, played for the high school JV basketball team and I was the JV team manager. I became team manager because Hilary didn’t like traveling around alone and being away from home. I signed up so I could watch her play, keep her company, and give her support. I kind of felt a little awkward when Hilary wasn’t with me during the away games because I didn’t really know many of the girls on the team. But, on one particular trip, Hilary made an effort to introduce me to more players.

I’ll be honest, Kathleen intimidated me when I first met her. She was a sophomore playing on JV and was swinging up to play varsity. She was a great player and was popular even with the senior girls on varsity. Kathleen was always making jokes with the coaches and other players. At school she was friends with a popular group and seemed to know everyone. She was tall and pretty and the life of the party so I deemed her way too cool to be my friend.

I immediately liked talking to Kathleen when we first met on that bus. She was nice and absolutely hilarious. Hilary and I laughed the whole time we talked to her. We bonded quickly over our love of Harry Potter and we almost never have a conversation that doesn’t involve the magical world of wizardry. We became friends during that basketball season and when it ended we began to talk in the hallways at school and started hanging out.

I don’t really remember when we actually became best friends. It just sort of happened. One day I was thinking Kathleen was too coo l for school and the next day I realized she was the most down to earth person I had ever met. Kathleen is easy going, and isn’t tied up in what other people think about her. She is a positive, glass half full type of person, and always knows what to say to cheer me up. When boys break my heart and girls crush my self-esteem, Kathleen is there. When I get homesick for Oregon I call her and she reminds me that being in Texas has been a great experience for me. On my birthday she called me two minutes after I turned 20. We celebrated graduating from high school together. And some nights we celebrate the joys of college with a simple text, “I love college.” She shares her ice cream cakes with me. Not to mention the fact that she never gets tired of watching SVU or Pride and Prejudice with me. During the summer we go on hikes, watch movies, grab drinks from our beloved Dutch Bros and generally have the time of our lives.

I tell Kathleen things I don’t tell anyone else. I don’t feel like I have to censor what I say, even if it’s silly, trivial, mean, or just annoying. She listens and responds accordingly. I feel like I can truly be myself around her, no questions asked.

I think some people come into your life as temporary friends. Some people you call for a few years when you want to go out or need a ride to the airport. Some friends I associate with here at TCU will probably not be my friends after I graduate from school. I understand that everyone I meet won’t make a huge difference in my life. Most people come and go, sometimes at their own convenience and sometimes at mine. Sometimes it’s hard to know who is here to stay and who isn’t.

Without a doubt Kathleen is here to stay. She has been with me through the pains of heartbreak and let down. She has been there for me when I felt like I didn’t have any one else to talk to. She will be there for me when I fall and most importantly, when I succeed. I don’t see anything coming between us. However, if we ever do get our acceptance letters to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry we might have a problem. She’d get into Gryffindor with all of the cool kids and I’d in Ravenclaw with the witty nerd types. But I have confidence that even if we were in different houses she would still be my best friend.

Oh and while I’m writing I might as well wish Kathleen a HAPPY 20^th BIRTHDAY!!!!!