Monday, August 9, 2010

My BFF

Naomi (Nom) and I have been best friends for 16 years, over half my life.  She knows me probably better than I know myself.  We have shared so much together over the years.  Sleepovers.  Girls camp.  Movie nights.  Nights on the roof.  Nights on the trampoline.  Nights in my room telling secrets.  Boyfriends.  Breakups.  More boyfriends.  More breakups.  College.  Graduation.  Dating.  Marriage.  Babies.  Now we can add one more to the list... Beating cancer.


I called Nom the day I found out about the tumor.  I knew her 30th birthday party was the next day and felt horrible dropping such a huge bombshell on her the night before her party, but that night I just needed my best friend.  It had been a few months since our last phone call, but that didn't matter.  No matter how short or long the last phone call or e-mail is, it always feels like we were just talking yesterday.  Our friendship is special, I know that.  I feel so lucky to have Naomi in my life.  There are very few friendships like the one we have and I treasure it.  We have cried together and laughed together... mostly laughed.  We laugh a lot.  We like to be silly and crazy and seem to bring out the inner child in each other.  Nom is a great people-person.  She can start a conversation with anyone, put them at ease, and seem to be best buds within a few minutes.  She has a gift.  She is a hard worker and seems to put all she has into everything she does.  I can always count on Nom to cheer me up if I'm having a hard time.  That's why it didn't surprise me when she called a few weeks ago and said "I'm coming to visit."  She bought her plane ticket and flew from Portland to Salt Lake on Thursday, July 29th, leaving her two young boys with her husband, Jeremy.  (I was kid-less, too.  My mom took the kids up to Portland to give them a vacation and give me some more time to recover... Thanks, mom!  We owe you!)  Nom and I had the time of our lives, staying up late talking, seeing a few movies, getting pedicures, shopping, eating out.  It was our first girls' weekend together since getting married and we both LOVED it.  Also, Nom surprised me by giving me an envelope of money she and her co-workers had earned by throwing a Fundraising Bake Sale for me at her work.  Nom explained how on the night I called telling her about the cancer she felt helpless and knew she had to "do something."  And so she did.  As she told me this, I cried... hard.  How did I get so lucky to have such a wonderful friend in my life these past 16 years?!  I love you, Nom.  Thanks for being such an amazing best friend.  Enjoy the pics of our past.  Hope they make you smile.  ;)  Love you, friend.

2 comments:

Naomi said...

WOW!!! Thanks James! You made me cry! But looking at the pics definitely made me laugh! We have been thru some pretty crazy shtuff together! I'm so glad I have you in my life - you have made me a better person. I love you so much!!!

Leslie said...

Man, what great friends you guys must be! Loved all the pics