Honoring a Friend

Happy Birthday Molly!!
(tomorrow...it's almost Wednesday my time)

Doesn't it look like we have the same color eyes?

If there is a definition for the perfect friend, you would have to go to Molly Lawson in the dictionary. I remember the first time I really met her. I did see her at sports stuff because we were rival Junior Highs and were in all three sports together (volleyball, basketball, and track), but I didn't actually meet her until late in my 8th grade year. It was during a school exchange at Sabin Middle School for all the Student Government kids at my Junior High. (Go Russell Raiders!) Anyway, I was paired up with Doug Wilson (who ended up being the Student Body President of my high school and good mutual friend of ours) and he introduced me to his friend, Molly. If you know Molly you can just hear her say, "Hi! I'm Molly! Nice to meet you!" with vim and vigor and a real bounce in her voice. I LOVE to hear her talk. And you really knew she meant every word.

Then, about 6 months later, I saw her again at the first sports tryout at my new high school. (Go Doherty Spartans!) We would then be inseparable. We ended up being in most of our freshman classes together and then wanted to be locker partners the following year. We lived at each other's homes and we really knew how to throw a party. Here are a list of all the school sponsored activities that we were in together: Freshman volleyball, Freshman basketball, Freshman choir, JV Volleyball, Varsity Volleyball, Varsity Tennis, National Honors Society, B-9 Task Force, numerous class projects, community service projects, dances ... I bet you there were more. Weren't there even a few made up clubs that we were in? :) ... Something about lights ... and turning on and off??? I think it was called the "Sophomore Boys Suck" club.

She was one of my bridesmaids, I was one of her bridesmaids. The sad part is, it's almost exhausting to pick up the phone to try to call her because I know I would want to talk to her for HOURS! We even played in an outdoor volleyball tournament together 8 weeks after having my first baby and even camped overnight near Steamboat! She even helped name that first baby.

Sometimes I really have to think what things I have done to be a good friend to her and it makes me sorta sad. . . Oh! I beat up boys for her! (Now that's friendship!) I threw her a "Happy 11th Day." (11 was my favorite number... long story) I went to ring dance at the Air Force Academy with her boyfriend's best friend. (Now that's love!) I backed into her BRAND NEW car. Eagle Talon, Gold. (wait, that was a BAD thing. Again. Sorry.) I..... can't think of any more. Pretty sad, huh?

She will always be my "best friend in high school." I really don't deserve her.

Molly Lawson: The Perfect Lifelong Friend.

She will remember your birthday, anniversary, Easter, Christmas, the 1st time you met (and maybe even what you were wearing), and send a card. Will forgive you instantly and forget your imperfections. Will cover for you and put up with your messy locker. Will tell you nice things about you, but will be honest too. Will find you dates (or was that her mother?) and make you laugh (a person slipping on a rotten banana peel in real life is truly a "laugh-until-you-pee-your-pants" experience) and is definitely beautiful inside & out. She is a person you don't deserve but happily wants to continue a friendship. . . for life!

Confession: When people got to know us, they were actually shocked that Molly wasn't a Mormon and I was. (hey!!) And we always had a dream of performing Grease. She would be Sandra (of course) and I would be Rizzo. Or was that JP's dream... :) Though we did go and see Grease performed. I was jaywalking and trying to get Molly to do the same, (good friend, huh?) she finally relented AS CARS WERE NOW COMING and ran screaming from one sidewalk to the other. Molly, you need to run BEFORE they start coming. I tried to teach her my evil ways, but I could never rub off on her. wink wink.

She's just awesome.