i don't have to convince carrie to split a slice of cake with me, because i know she will. i don't have to explain which brother is who and what my uncle's name is, again, because she is as familiar with them as her own family. i don't have to remind, or apologize, or worry, or anything with carrie, because she is carrie, and we have been friends far too long to have to deal with such things.

she was there when my first boyfriend dumped me for another girl. i was there to tell her that her high school crush was really a jerk. we were there for each other -- when we needed to cry, or laugh, or just be girls. i knew which cupboard they kept the spoons and forks in. my cousin sent her e-mail more often than she wrote me. and we could never keep anything from each other, even when we tried.

it's the little things, and the big things, and the inbetween things that make our friendship what it is. it's time. it's patience. it's work. our friendship is not effortless, but when we are sitting at a table in the corner of the Library, sharing a slice of lemon cake, looking over recent photos and rambling about where we've been and where we're going (like we did last night), it sure feels that way.

(p.s. hi carrie. i love you, girl.)