My oldest friend is getting MARRIED!

L-R Front Row: Jaclyn, Carla, Trisha, Me, Steven. L-R Back Row: Mom, Aunt Keri and Michelle

My friendship with Trisha began when we were 5 years old, and her family lived just three blocks away from my Grandma’s house. We started PM kindergarten together that year, along with her twin brother Steven, and their Mom and older sister Michelle helped keep an eye on me before lining us all up at the bus stop each day.  Together we danced to ‘Love Shack’ and sang along to ‘Ice, Ice Baby,’ shared a love for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and devoured Ketchup Sandwiches. I special ordered my tacos at Taco Bell and was often in timeout for a variety of offenses.  Trisha gave me the other half of her friendship bracelet and hardly ever ended up in timeout. Steven taught me how to ride a bike. Life was good. 

Trisha and I at an early 90's Skate World Birthday Party

After 1st grade we went to separate elementary schools and it wasn't until 7th grade that we both ended up at Agnes E. Beer middle school, where Trisha became my first friend all over again.

Amy, Dana, Trisha and I - 2003

After high school we experienced our ‘Canada Days’ together. Birth certificates in hand we crossed the border weekly and danced our way across Windsor (where the the drinking age is 19) to anything by the Black Eyed Peas. 

Trisha and I - 2004

As we grew older our friendship only got deeper.  Trisha is still the first person I call when I’m coming in to town and the first to offer up her spare bedroom.  She has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever met, and more kindness and patience than I ever thought possible. We have been friends for more than 20 years which has earned her the irrevocable title of ‘My Oldest Friend.’

Michelle, Trisha and I - Christmas 2011

Next Saturday Trisha is getting married to her best friend and I couldn’t be happier for them. Her sister and matron of honor, Michelle, had planned a fantastic bachelorette party that would start with cocktails and gifts at Trisha's house, not too far from where we all grew up in Michigan, and then move to Boogie Fever for a night of dancing. For all of her pre-wedding events Trisha had been more than reluctant to ask her out-of-state friends to travel. “Just be here for my wedding,” she kept saying, “the plane tickets are too much money.” 

Trisha and Mike

I hung back for the shower but couldn’t image not being there for her bachelorette party. Karen (another old friend) and I begun planning my surprise attendance back in August. I bought plane tickets, called my mother and Michelle was let in on the secret. As I walked up the driveway Trisha was shocked, and a little confused. We hugged, and laughed, and celebrated my oldest friend’s final ‘Girls Night Out’ before she'll walk down the aisle to become a 'Mrs.' 

Friends and family showered Trisha with gifts, some sweet, some racy, before loading on to the party bus. I wished the beautiful bachelorette 'a marriage filled with snuggles and celebrations' with the gift of a furry throw to share with her hubby on those cold Michigan nights and a set of leopard print Lolita wine glasses for celebrating their many blessings yet to come.  The majority of the night was spent dancing until our feet ached with other ‘old’ friends, some I hadn’t seen in years.

 

Trisha and I- September 15th, 2012 

Needless to say, the plane ticket and car rental were money well spent, spending that special night with Trisha was something I wouldn't have missed for the world. <3