Today is a bittersweet day because it's my friend Shannon's birthday (that's the sweet part) but she's so far away that we can't properly celebrate (I'm bitter)!! I'm sure some of you feel like you know Shannon because of all of the posts that I've done about her and her family (this post, this one, right here, another) but you haven't heard much about her lately because they moved up North just before we moved to Sumter. I've never been one to have a ton of friends but I've been so lucky to have 3 or 4 lifelong friends that are more like sisters and Shannon is one of these. So, in honor of her birthday I thought I would do a special birthday list called "Reasons that Shannon is such an amazing, wonderful friend and I miss her so much that I literally cry sometimes from missing her so badly but I hope she is having a happy birthday because she deserves it". Here we go...
Before I met Shannon I never really had a friend that I knew had my back. When I was growing up I never felt like anyone was completely loyal to me. I mean, I had friends but I never had a friend that I felt like I could completely be myself around without having to worry about what they would think and even worse, what they would say when I wasn't around. I never worry about that with Shannon and that is a wonderful feeling.
Shannon and I met in college and it's kinda funny how all that happened because we actually didn't like each other at first. I thought she was mean and she thought I was stuck up...and then we talked to each other and were suddenly best friends. Funny how that worked out. Anywhoo, one day during critique (which is the time when you put your photos up and everyone tells you why they stink) there was this photo that everyone kept going back and forth about. Some people liked the composition and some people didn't but I immediately LOVED IT (!!!) and once I found out it was Shannon's, I knew that she must be awesome. Soon after that we were inseparable and we went on to work together to create two of the most personal projects either of us had ever done. I was so happy to have such a talented, creative, thoughtful classmate and friend to learn and grow with.... even if we wasted half of the time thinking the other person was mean.
No matter what I want to do... Shannon supports me. That's it. She's in my corner.
I have never had to be anything other than myself around Shannon. It's kinda funny too because we are almost EXACT opposites. She's a Mormon extrovert with lots of siblings from Utah and I'm an introverted, Southern Baptist, only child from South Carolina. The differences go on for days (the way we drive, the food we like, the way we interact on social media (hahahahahaha!)) but I've never had to do one thing to try and be more like her and less like me. She likes me for me and I like her for her. Having a friend that is your opposite keeps things interesting and gives us lots of things to talk about. Plus, those Mormons are crafty and thank goodness for it. I would have never been able to make all of the stuff for my wedding without our weekly sewing parties.
Shannon loves me and I know it because she tells me. I feel good knowing that when one of us dies (which is hopefully not happening anytime soon) the other won't have any regrets about things that went unsaid. I know she love me and she knows I love her and I'm thankful to be in a friendship where we regularly remind each other what we mean to one another.
So, those are just a few of the many reasons that I love my bestie! Shannon, I hope that you are having a wonderful birthday and I'm so sorry that we can't be there to celebrate with you! I can't wait to see you!! Love and Miss! Jb
I love you Jenna! This is the most beautiful post and I don't deserve any of it! LOVE urrrr guts!!
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