Friend-iversary

When my parents came over for dinner on Sunday, they brought along a few boxes of my stuff from their basement. In them there was a lot of my old school work, my Brownie hat, all my Brownie badges as well as a bunch of picture books from high school and early university. Looking at all the pictures made me think 2 things. One, I am so lucky to have had and still have such great friends and two, we thought we were really funny posing ridiculously for many shots.

Two of my oldest friends (in length of time we have been friends, not in their age!), are actually a married couple. This summer will mark 15 years since we first officially became what I would call "good friends". We knew each other for a few years prior, however it wasn't until a summer camp experience at the Peace Gardens where we truly realized that we were a match. I would argue that there are not many people who can claim that they have been friends with a couple since they were 13 years old. This, of course, is because most "couples" at 13, are not "couples" at 28. This is just one of the things that make Barrett and Larissa so special. They started "dating" in grade 8, continued dating through junior high, high school, and university and then finally sealed the deal and got married in our early 20's. Fast forward through 7 years of happy marriage and they are now proud parents to a perfect little boy. Like I said before, Larissa and I had known each other briefly before that summer, 15 years ago, but that is really the first time I met and got to know Barrett. We came together mostly because our sisters were friends and also because my Dad and Larissa's Dad knew each other from basketball in university.

One of the first memories I have of the two of them is how much we laughed. Right from the start we just got along. Because we didn't go to the same junior high, I didn't see them a lot during those years, however in grade 10, joined them at the same high school. The high school I chose was not where the majority of my junior high went, therefore I was fairly alone in my choice. I remember my first day, sitting in my teacher advisers classroom, nervous and unsure as I really didn't know many people. A few minutes later I saw Barrett and Larissa standing at the door of my classroom, coming to see me and see how my first day was going. Instantly the nerves went away and I knew that the next few years were going to be fun and I was going to be just fine.

I figure in this picture we are maybe 17 or 18. I have a vague recollection of being at a Christmas party maybe?


Larissa and I had the opportunity to play on many sports teams together over our time together in high school. There were many championships and happy moments, and as there always are, some not so fun moments but nevertheless I think it's safe to say that we both have very fond memories of those days. There were many road trips, mornings spent on the mats after track and even a provincial championship or two.

Here we are winning the KCAC Basketball championship. Makes me feel old that they don't even call our conference KCAC anymore...also, please excuse my adolescent acne :).


Since high school, our friendship hasn't really changed much which I love. Even though our lives have taken us through our education, jobs, marriage and ultimately now parenthood, we are still able to simply enjoy each others company, talk about the trials and tribulations of life and bounce design, cooking, fashion and now more than anything else, baby ideas off each other.

If Barrett and I are together, it is sometimes difficult for others to get a word in. Yes, we both talk. A lot. We have never had any trouble finding something to talk about. It has been that way for 15 years and I really don't see it ever changing. The topics have evolved over time, however the ease has remained the same. We have always been able to laugh through everything, even some pretty tough moments.

Here we are at one of our joint birthday parties (our birthdays are about 2 weeks apart). I think we are maybe turning 20 and 21...one of the shots where we clearly thought we were hilarious).


One of the reasons that I knew that Jason was the guy for me, was how well he got along with the two of them. From day one it just felt like Jason had been a part of the group from day 1, something that had never felt right with any other guy I dated. Not only does he fit in with the group, but he and Barrett have also become friends on their own, something I always hoped for when I met the man I would share my life with.

Being friends for 15 years means that there are a lot of memories. Too many to remember, in fact. Bottom line is this...if Colin has friends like Barrett and Larissa through his teenage and early adult years, I will never have to worry for a second. Friends like them are good influences, always have your back and are not afraid to let you know when they think you are making a detrimental decision. They are there in the good and there in the bad and through both become like family. If there is one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that the past 15 years would not have been close to as fun without them. High school, university, working at Earl's, trips to the states, countless (well, I guess we COULD count...It's 15) birthdays, failed relationships (just on my end!), marriage, joining the working world, new puppies and now the biggest challenge of all, babies have made the last 15 years fly by. Looking through the past years in pictures, brought it all back and reminded me how lucky I am to have had friends like them to share every minute with.

What the next 15, 30, 50 years hold for us I'm not entirely sure but there is no doubt in my mind that we won't be friends through it all. I see many vacations, many trips to the lake, countless hours spent watching our kids playing and hopefully growing their own friendships, too many home projects and renovations, and lots of dinners and parties to celebrate it all. I cannot imagine what life would have been like up to this point without them and am so lucky that I don't have to think about what life from now on would be like without them.

Life is just better with good friends and the past 15 years are no exception.