A very special friend

Sometimes in life we are blessed with someone special entering our lives, we find an immediate bond with them and a great friendship is born. I have been blessed like this a handful of times in my life, I have many really good friends, but only a few that fit this description.

One of the hazards of moving continents is you leave friends behind and however hard you try, it's impossible to keep up the same level of contact. Such was the case when I left my bestfriend behind in England, we had been so close for 27 years and I knew she'd be impossible to replace.

But then another friend here introduced me to Judy, and suddenly I found a female friend who filled the big hole left by Gill. Of course you cannot replace a friend who's known everything about your life for 30 years, those memories are long! But it's fun starting over with someone else, who you just know will still be a very close friend 30 years from now.

Judy is the only female friend here I can say anything to and not shock, she just raises an eyebrow at me and gives me her 'look' if the 'F' word accidentally slips out, where as others visibly disapprove/recoil. We can share a look and know what the other is thinking, an invaluable asset at times. We have the same sense of humour, can talk for hours about girly stuff, both adore make-up, jewelry, shoes, clothes, magazines and have very similar taste. We also share the same longing to be skinnier and fitter, have similar thyroid issues, and we can shop contentedly together.

Now unless you're a woman you might not understand that last one, or how crucial being able to shop together is to a friendship. There are some women in my life I love, but no way can I shop with them, we just shop too differently. I know what I like and suits me, so I can't spend hours just browsing and I really can't stand indecision. Judy is the same and so shopping together is a pleasure, plus we give each other total honesty with no fear of upsetting feelings.

We happen to work together; Judy is a wonderful 1st grade teacher and so we can watch out for each other even when having a stressful day. She is someone I can share every emotion with, a rare thing for me as I hide my emotions alot, but she's had me arrive on her doorstep in tears and just been there to listen. It also just happens that our Hubsters have developed a great friendship and so we do alot as couples, including our Wii nights!

And as all close friends should, we have a secret or two and we also have a funny story, ours involves a big red bow!

Today Judy is celebrating a milestone birthday and because I'm a good friend I'm not sharing which one. But I wanted to wish her a Happy Birthday, let her know how thankful I am to have her in my life and how highly I value her friendship. And to thank her for being so willing to take on this unknown and sometimes misunderstood 'alien'!

"Happy Birthday Judy"