Best Friends Essay Winner

I used to think Best Friend meant whoever stood next to you in the lunch line or whoever called you for advice in high school or college….but I have to say now that I am 39 years old, I know the meaning of “Best Friend”. My best friend is someone I met in college over 20 years ago; wow it really has been a long time. Marcie and I met in College; I transferred to Wilkes College in Pennsylvania after attending Northeastern University in Boston for one year. Going to college is tough enough but when you are a transfer it is that much more difficult. Everyone already has their clicks/friends and here you are just trying to find your way. Marcie found me, her an I instantly connected, she introduced to me to a group of girls that without question were and still are Amazing….yes we are all still the best of friends even after 20 years, 6 marriages and 16 children between us. But again, I have to give the credit to Marcie, for without her I honestly think we would have all drifted apart. She is the “glue” that holds us together.

The two of us have been through the good times and the bad, but the best thing about our relationship is our honesty. We always tell each other the truth, even if what we say might not be what the other wants to hear, we never sugar coat anything. I honestly believe that is why we trust and value each other as much as we do. We have been in each other’s weddings, even though I was 6 months pregnant with my first child in hers, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. We were there for the birth of our 5 children combined. We were there for the loss of parents. My father died of Bone Cancer at the age of 48 and Marcie was the first person I called and she never left my side. Then about 3 short years later Marcie lost her Mom to Breast Cancer and I was there for her too.
My second baby was very sick, near death, and as hard as it was to see him like that, she was there for me the entire time. She was the only girlfriend of mine that came to the hospital not just to comfort me and my husband but she brought a bag full of supplies, snacks, books, puzzles, etc. to keep us occupied. Everyone uses the term, she is like family to me, well when it comes to Marcie, she is my family.

Right now, she is going through a separation and it breaks my heart to see this happen to such a loving, caring, and supportive person. Her husband does not know what he is giving up. She already knows that I have her back and I would do whatever I need to do to help her through this, because I know in a blink of an eye she would be there for me if I was in the same situation.