Sometimes interpersonal relationships change due to schedules, interests changing, availability for activities together, and many other factors. This is what I am realizing about a couple of relationships with close friends.

I have this one friend, who I have called my best friend for years, has somewhat drifted in a different direction from me. Partly because of personal situations on both of our parts, I'm sure. Between my daughter moving home, us no longer working together, and a plethora of other stuff, we have gone from best friends to really good friends. I know I don't have to talk to her every day, but it seems like there are communication issues as well. I could be just overthinking things though. Who knows...

I was paying attention to this friendship dwindling, and my own personal issues...and all the while, another friend was being there to push me in positive ways. She got me going to the gym, always supported my writing, loves to hear about what I'm reading and to talk to me about what she is reading, she was there for me when my now husband and I were having problems...and SOO much more. I don't feel that I gave to our friendship nearly as much as she has, and for that, I feel horrible. In a nutshell, I took her for granted.

And now, this woman who snuck in and became my best friend when I wasn't paying attention is leaving. She is moving over 700 miles away. Now that I have realized how important she has become, she's leaving. How cruel is fate?! I promised her I wouldn't cry...not in front of her at least. But as I write this at work and await the text or call from her before they leave, I am really fighting back tears.

She started an online book club for us and some other friends, which I think will be awesome to give us something to do together over the distance. I have started to plan other ways of making her feel love from home and make sure she knows that she's not alone. With her husband being a new graduate from Army Basic Training, I know she'll have to deal with her husband, who is also a long-time good friend of our family, being deployed. But I will make sure she doesn't deal with it alone.

Oh yeah, and I have learned that rambling like a nut to a good friend can relieve tension and anxiety....that dear friend really earned her stripes with putting up with me tonight. Haha!

Regardless of who I call best friend, or who I don't talk to often, I love my friends dearly. If I didn't, THIS kind of post (all the parts) wouldn't get written. If I didn't love them, I wouldn't worry about them, cry for them, and I CERTAINLY wouldn't ramble on about them. I love you all, ladies!