My Best-ies

I awoke at 5 this morning after a night out with my birthday club girls, quietly turned on my laptop in the kitchen, slipped in the disc of photos to music Teri gave us all last night and wept. These four women . . . my best-ies. Although only five years together, the life hurdles we have overcome together bond us like no other: births, loss of family pets, miscarriages, marriage problems, moves, the near collapse of friendships, the death of a mom, the death of a dad. . .the cancer diagnosis. Through it all, we've been rocky, but we've stayed strong. These are the friends who drop everything and show up on your doorstep with chocolate and wine to cheer you up. They call you on your 50 minute drive to work at 6am to keep your mind off your cancer. They are in the waiting room while you undergo surgery. They take the day off and drive hours out of their way to play silly games with you during your first chemo treatment. They show up at your second treatment wearing a bridesmaid gown to make you smile. They pray. They offer time and time again a retreat for your son so you can rest. They remind you that God is in control. They paint their bodies with "Lyngstrong" in support of you and run a 5k. They go pick out wigs with you and make it fun. They are solid. Their grand gestures and their daily emails. The looks on their faces mean more these days. Their hugs are longer. It is not easy to be the loved one of someone with cancer. I get that they don't always know what to say or what to do. These four women are special beyond the meaning of the word. I will watch those pictures fade in and out on that DVD and listen to those lyrics hundreds of times this weekend . . . and weep.