You just never know when you will meet a person who will change your life forever. A Lesson in Love and Friendship.
In the third grade, I met T. She sat at my table in Miss Dobson’s class. When we walked home together we discovered that we had become next door neighbors.
A Lesson in Love and Friendship
Christmas
Birthdays
School talent shows
Slumber parties
Drivers ed, first kisses, and prom.
At times, my childhood was really rough. But T was my constant. Even when I moved away from one foster home to another, I knew I could just call T and she would arrive in her Pontiac LeMans to take me anywhere I needed to go.
After graduation, I moved far away, but that didn’t stop us from being there for the adult milestones.
Weddings
Children
And the big one, turning 40.
She always makes me laugh…
…even when I want to cry. The past few years have been especially tough. I had to watch as Alzheimer’s stole away the Papa Jack that I knew and loved.
I became his legal guardian and when I had to move him into a locked facility T drove several hours, so I wouldn’t have to do it all alone. When he passed away, she once again was at my side to help me make all the arrangements so I wouldn’t be by myself. I could never have gotten through the tough moments in life without her.
The Heart Runs Over
How do you thank a person who is so loving, giving and selfless? A person you know you can always count on no matter what. A mere “thank you” just doesn’t even begin to feel like it would be enough.
“We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is, at last, a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last, one which makes the heart run over.” ~Samuel Johnson
T, my heart is not just full of love for you, it has run over. I am so thankful for the day on which you were born.
Happy Birthday dear friend.
Laura
God certainly sent an angel when he sent Tracy into your life. What a blessing to have a friend so faithful. Happy Birthday Tracy!Happy Valentine’s Day Laura!
Well, it’s rare for me to be in tears before breakfast, but how could I not be after reading this? Thank you for sharing your tribute to Tracy. You are truly blessed to have such a friend.
Wow, that was a powerful post! I think you are both lucky to have found each other. Laura, you are a model for how one can choose their path. I am so humbled by you!
Isn’t it wonderful to have such a friend?! Happy Birthday, Tracy!
What a wonderful friendship! Happy Birthday to your friend Tracy!!
Wow, Isn’t it nice to have such a great friend in your life for so long. I have one of those too! You are surely blessed…..Happy Valentine’s Day,Suzy
Oh! That is so sweet! I have a Tracy. Her name is Kemra. We’ve been there for each other one hundred percent. And for a long time I thought that everyone had a Kemra, but the older I get the more I realize that these kinds of friendships are rare. It makes me so grateful because I honestly don’t know what I’d do without the woman!
What a treasure to have in your life! I’m so glad you had a friend to be there for you through all the rough times and to share your good times as well. How fortunate for you to still be friends after all of these years. Happy Birthday Tracy!
I’m very happy for you both. I think that my life-long friend is my dear husband. It’s such a blessing to know that no matter what happens, there is someone in this world who knows you and loves you despite the changes that life throws as you.
What a lovely tribute to a wonderful friend. You are both blessed to have each other.Lorrie
I didn’t know you were going to make me cry…. You certainly are blessed.
My dear Laura. Thank you so much for dedicating your blog page to me today. That was so awesome and I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful friend. That was so touching and of course, you made me cry! But, it was a good cry. You are an amazing friend and I am truly blessed to have you in my life. Thank you to all of you that has wished me a happy birthday. I do have to say that this is one of the best birthday’s ever. Thanks to all of you and my dear friend Laura. I love you dearly. Thanks again!
This brought tears to my eyes. I have a friend that I feel that way about and she lives almost 500 miles away and I miss her a ton! Oh and I had a sleeping bad just like the red and white one in your pic, lol!
What a sweet post! You repay a person who has been there for you by being there for her and loving her… just the way you do! 🙂XO,Sheila
A wonderful loving testament to your friend. Everyone needs a good friend like you have and I am also blessed to have one named Deana. We have been friends for 42yr and counting. I can’t imagine going through some of the things in the past without her. Here is a quote that I found a few years ago that I think sums up friendship like this. “Good friends are God’s way of apologizing for families” Have a wonderful day and Happy Birthday Tracy.Sue
Happy Birthday to Tracy. You are blessed to have such a person in your life. I’m sure if we asked Tracy, she would say she is blessed to have you in her life.Happy FridayKris
Oh how sweet. I hope your wonderful friend has a great birthday.Have a great weekend!*hugs*
How sweet you are to post this beautiful message for your friend.You are both blessed to have each other. Happy birthday Tracy!
My friend Robin….she’s been with me since the the tender age of nine.Shes in sunny Cal. I’m in the rainy northwest. We can talk on the phone for hours about The MONKEES and our then crush for Davy Jones.I think I’ll give her a call.I hope you’re friend has a VERY Happy Birthday!!!!Sweet wishes,Sara
I am so glad thot you have that friend that you can always count on!! It is so nice to know when you find that one person that is your BFF!! Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Oh Laura.. this made med cry… Beautiful! I am glad you have a friend like that! Take good care of her!Monica
Laura, I couldn’t control my tear drops…Thanks for sharing your tribute to Tracy. Wishing Happy Birthday to Tracy. You’re blessed for having a real friend.But, I think she is also blessed for having a friend like you:)Rengin, in Istanbul
My eyes just filled with tears over this touching post. What a treasure Tracy is to you as I am sure you are a treasure to her.Happy Monday Sweet Laura,LuLu~*xoxo
That was beautiful. What a special friend! Thanks for sharing. Your friend is lucky to have you.
This blog really struck a cord with me because I lost my mother almost two years ago. She had dymentia and I had to make all the hard decisions including finding a lock down facility. My dear friend Sybil, who I met when I was fifteen, was totally there for me,plus she shared a history with me that no one else could. My only sister passed away when she was twenty eight, 31 years ago Feb.19th. My dear friend Sybil knew my mother and sister well and is one of the only people I could express my grief to that really understood.I think of Sybil as my angel too. I’m so touched to hear of your long time friendship and how it was a comfort to you to have her.My friends birthday was Feb.11 and after reading your blog I wish I had thougtht to thank my friend with my blog. Thanks for sharing!
What a sweet, loving tribute to a good friend. I’m having fun getting to know you via your blog, thanks for stopping by mine! And happy birthday to Tracy!!
Laura…. that was one of the most beautiful tributes to friendship that I have ever read.Happy belated Birthday Tracy! rue
What a precious friend you were blessed with for so long in your life! Thank you for sharing! That is just how beautiful God works in our lives!Thank you for visiting my blog too! I appreciate the comments so much! 🙂So I am curious, are you actually related to Laura Ingalls then? How awesome! I am a homeschooler and we are currently about to read through Little House on the Prairie as the kids love the dvds from the library! 🙂
What a blessing TRacy is!
That is such a beautiful story. You certainly are blessed to have such a wonderful friend in your life. Thanks for sharing this!
Beautiful post. What a blessing it is to have such a fantastic friend!
that’s really amazing…that doesn’t happen very often in this life. you are truly blessed! your tribute to her brought tears to my eyes! thanks for sharing…