First of all, we call her K.L.E.B., short for 'Kristi Loves Everybody'. And she does.
There are some friends in life that are such a part of your existence, that you have to wonder if you are friends just because life put you together.
Kristi and I decided we were best friends when we were Sunbeams in Primary; we were three years old. It only made sense right? We lived in the same city only minutes from each other. We went to the same church. We are both the oldest girls in our family. Our two little sisters are exactly the same age. We worked at the same place in high school. We attended the same seminary. We attended the same proms. We shared the same friends. We were in the same gym class. We are both equally uncoordinated.
With so much commonality, I used to wonder if we were just situational friends.
But she loves Disney, boardgames, Boston and 'The Boys'. She loves pop-culture, shopping, penguins, Princess Dianna, and scrap booking. I love literature, architecture, the outdoors, camping, world travel, and running. Her blog is dedicated to Disney, mine is dedicated to deep, ponderous thoughts.
But situational friendships don't last 30 years.
Situational friends forget you once the situation ends. Kristi called me every week my first year of college...EVERY WEEK, pre-cellphone era, on her own accord, when we had to pay dearly for long distance. She remembers my birthday every year, even though I haven't been home for a birthday since I was 17. She used to send me care packages from New Hampshire containing pieces of New Hampshire that I might be missing (like a sand dollar...because she knew I missed the beach). She was at the airport when I came home from my mission AND she wrote me while I was gone. A visit home necessarily includes a visit with Kristi; there has never been an exception. Because that would defy the unspoken K.L.E.B. code. She has forgiven me for my stupid humanness repeatedly (keep in mind that we were friends through junior high and high school) because of her K.L.E.B. nature. She has seen all my vices and loves me anyway. She gives without the expectation of return.
I used to think that K.L.E.B.'s were normal and could be discovered in abundance. But I've discovered that a true K.L.E.B. is a rarity. I am grateful that I got one...my very own K.L.E.B.
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3 comments:
I'm blushing! I'm glad I've got my very own Chantal. They are hard to come by as well. I mean who else would celebrate stupid day with me? I spent the day with Caren Vigneault this weekend and she and I are also opposites yet understand each other. I think having someone just like you as a close friend would probably be annoying after a while. Thanks for not stealing my radiance and knowing how to be radiant with me!
What a sweet tribute! I have a KLEB too. Her name is Aubrey and I can't imagine my life without her! It's nice to have KLEBs to keep us humble or to feed our egos when necessary. I love your stud/ette of the month posts. Never quit. Miss your guts!
KLEB, pretty sure I got the better end of the deal. Radiance, chiggers, the blue flame, buzz light year, stupid day, sand dollars, open it, close it. The fun never ends.
Julianne - miss you too!! I don't think I ever met Aubrey.
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