Kaylee is coming home!

A few years ago I remember feeling really fortunate that I never had to endure the sadness of having someone close to me move away. I thought I was out of the woods, so to speak. I had my comfortable little world with my family close by and lots of great friends within walking distance of my house.

My best friend Kaylee lived just up the street. She is someone I have known all my life. Our parents were friends, so I have literally known her since birth. We weren't always close, though. In school we just ran with different social groups and our paths didn't cross much. We would always say "hi" when we did see each other, but it never went much beyond that.

Our friendship didn't develop, oddly, until our late 20s. We coincidentally had bought houses in the same neighborhood. She came over to my house the first time with our mutual friend Erin, to meet Bella the day we brought her home from the hospital. Later, when I had to return to work after maternity leave, Kaylee agreed to babysit Bella.

Kaylee and I were meant to be friends. I hope everyone is lucky enough to have a Kaylee in their lives. She is kind and loyal and sensitive and caring. Our friendship grew with each milestone...births of new babies, personal struggles, and losses. She helped me through the loss of my dad two years ago and even though at that point she had not been through it herself, seemed to know just the right thing to say and when to say nothing at all. When she lost her little brother last spring I did my best to be the friend she had been to me.

When Kaylee told me that her husband was taking a new job in Phoenix and that they would be moving soon, it was like somebody put a little lead weight inside my heart. On the day I had to tell her goodbye, I walked into her house where her whole family was coming in and out with boxes, loading up the U-haul that was parked in the driveway. At first I was first just making chitchat with her, then without warning burst into tears. Not the dab-at-the-corners-of-your-eyes cry, but the full-on, sobs and gasps kind of cry. It even makes me teary-eyed just writing about it. All I could say was "I have never had a friend move away before!"

Kaylee has lived in Phoenix for 6 months now. I miss her a lot. It's even hard for me to drive past her old house. But.........She is coming home for two weeks for Thanksgiving! Yay! I miss our laughing over lattes. Our kids playing and screaming and laughing. Long talks (and tears) over red wine. Art night and watercolor painting. Walking and talking and gossiping. I can't wait to see you, Kaylee.

One more thing....I can't believe I don't have even one photo that's just the two of us. I know what we'll be doing next time I see you!!