A Once in a Lifetime Friend

It was a cool, crisp fall day. I was 8 years old, and a bit frightened. I walked into my new 2^nd grade classroom, having transferred across Atlanta in November-ish, and didn’t know anyone. My sister was a few halls down in this strange E shaped school, but my brothers were now at a completely different school. A lot had changed in our lives, and now a new school. I had left all of my friends behind and was so nervous. My teacher’s name was Mrs. Robb, and let’s just say that she’s not the type of teacher I ever want to be.

That whole year of my life (and the next) was hard. But there were a few rays of sunshine that came shining through. One of those rays was my friend Leilani. Leilani and I became friends soon after I transferred to E Rivers. We never had play dates or sleepovers, but we were inseparable at school. She helped me to feel accepted and valued.

E Rivers--2nd Grade

Leilani is sitting on the front row in the pink and white skirt. I am the top of the triangle.

When I started 3^rd grade, I was elated to see Leilani sitting in my classroom. We had Mrs. Wells, one of my all time favorite teachers. It was a much better year. Leilani and I still played together and also made other friends that I still remember.

Then, at the end of 3^rd grade, my parents decided that another move was best for our family. I was sad to leave my friends and Mrs. Wells. I made sure to get all of their addresses, hoping to stay in touch.

We moved from Atlanta to Florida to Tennessee and finally settled in Alabama (all of this within two months). We finally had a semi-permanent address (we lived in Huntsville and moved a few months later to New Hope, a small town outside of Huntsville), so I began writing to four people from E Rivers: Leilani, Mrs. Wells, Robin, and Arianna. I heard back only once from Arianna (I never really thought she liked me.). Robin and I wrote for a few years. Mrs. Wells and I wrote for many years and now send Christmas cards. But Leilani was different. We wrote and wrote and wrote. She was artsy and cultured. I was outgoing and sporty. We wrote to each other about people the other person didn’t even know. We wrote about school and our families. Later we wrote about boys of course. We made fun of each other’s lives a little bit. She was an exchange student in Spain (was I jealous!) while I was playing three sports and serving as president of just about every club at school. We continued to write….for years and years without ever seeing each other……

Then, it was our senior year of high school. We began writing about which colleges we were considering. We sent each other graduation invitations. Then, after 9 years, we saw each other! I had just graduated and Matt and I had gotten engaged. My mom and dad and I went to Atlanta to surprise Leilani at her high school graduation. It was so magnificent, and I wish we could have spent the whole day together (and I wish I could find the pictures), but we were together long enough for me to ask her to be a bridesmaid in Matt’s and my wedding, which was still two years away. She accepted, and we began college in separate states, but Leilani and I continued to write. We even began to e-mail (gasp!). That was a new concept to us, and we actually wrote more than we e-mailed.

As my wedding approached, I again mentioned to Leilani that I wanted her to be a bridesmaid, and she was still on board, though she was in the midst of changing schools. She came to New Hope for the first time to get fitted for her gown, and actually stayed for a day or so. Matt liked her instantly. Leilani came again for our wedding, and I was so proud that she could be a part of that special day.

This was the day my bridesmaids were fitted for their dresses. Leilani is on the right.

We wrote a little less, but still wrote. Leilani went to Spain again (lucky girl), and Matt and I made plans for a family. Leilani even sent a gift for Kennedy.

We have not seen each other since my wedding, over nine years ago, but we have kept up with each other through letters, cards, our blogs, and Facebook.

Leilani did the unthinkable last December: she got married! She had a small, sweet wedding ceremony. Tomorrow night she and her husband Shawn will celebrate their loving union with a reception. They live in North Carolina, and unfortunately, I can not be there, no matter how badly I wish I could be. But I am sending them my love and prayers for a wonderful marriage, and I know that in time we will see each other again. I look forward to that day so much! Leilani is a once in a lifetime friend, and even though I was frightened to walk into that new school back in 1988, I would do it all again for her friendship. I love you, Leilani, and I wish you all the happiness that life holds!

The picture below shows many of the letters Leilani has sent to me over the past twenty years. I was SO jealous of the cute address labels with the sheep on them! You can't see all of the letters because they are stuck together, but she often decorated the envelopes. Kennedy was in here earlier admiring them!