I Don't Care Who You Are Where You're From What You Did As Long As You Love Me

I have known Robin since we were both seven years old. Her family moved to my neighbourhood and we ended up in the same second grade class. Proximity played a role in the beginning of our friendship but it was our mutual love of cheesy movies and 5 cent candies and cheap hair products that sustained our friendship through the rocky elementary and high school years.

Robin is a forever friend. She has seen me at my worst: she has held my hair back and let me retch after drinking too much, too many times to count (it should be noted that Robin has the alcohol tolerance of a drunken sailor and I have never had to hold her hair back, which is a very good thing because I don't have the stomach for it); she bit her tongue when I dated a selfish jerk and then picked up the pieces when he broke my heart (every time he broke my heart); she refused to abide by the hospital rule of "family members only" and sneaked into the emergency room and held my hand until I woke up after my ill-fated bachelorette party.

Robin never says "I told you so" even though I have deserved to hear it many times.

She has been there for me for twenty years. She has planned birthday extravaganzas, given fashion advice, been my wingwoman when anxiety got the best of me, made me laugh until my stomach hurt, introduced me to mojitos, told me when I was being an idiot without actually calling me an idiot, choreographed awesome dances to awful Backstreet Boys songs, talked me down off of many ledges, and stood beside me when I married Shawn.

Today Robin is boarding a plane bound for Africa. I am so excited for the adventures she is going to have and so proud of her for going on this solo journey. I am also feeling very blue.

I will miss you, friend. Be safe.

Love you bunches.