I never had a real best girl friend until college. But within two years of college I had developed a close cohort of female friends who became a very important part of my life. Two of the closest were my best friend Lauren and my roommate Jackie. Lauren and I met freshman year when we were both taking dance classes. I will admit that when I first met her I was completely jealous. As a dancer she had the perfect line and body type for ballet and had years more training that I did. But I soon discovered that she easily the most selfless person I had ever known.
Jackie became my roommate almost by default. We both needed roommates and neither had any other options. We had taken a couple classes together and worked on the campus newspaper together. It was a gamble for both of us, but since I had already had two unfortunate roommate experiences in one year, I figured I could afford to take a chance. My risk paid off, as we soon became close friends. We were both section editors for the campus paper; Jackie, sports editor, and me, Arts & Entertainment. We knew it would only be for one year, since I was getting married the following summer, but at the end I think we both wished it could have lasted longer. Jackie was a hard worker, but easy going and entertaining to live with. You could discuss anything with her, from politics to theology.
I was privileged to have both these women stand by my side on my wedding day. It was hard to keep in touch after I got married at the end of my sophomore year. Lauren graduated the following year (having finished in 3 years), Jackie took a semester abroad in Cairo and I graduated a semester early the following December. We kept in touch by email and occasion visits. I was a bridesmaid in Lauren’s wedding and set Jackie up with a blind date with an old friend. It has been almost seven years since I left college and slowly I have lost touch with both of them. Lauren and her husband moved out to Kansas City,MO to be part of International House of Prayer. Jackie married (though not to the blind date I set her up with), and attended law school. I renewed contact after my daughter was born. Jackie and I sent regular emails for a while. Lauren and her husband stopped by on their way through the area while visiting family. But I haven’t heard from either of them in over a year. But I’ve decided that it falls to me to get in touch. I wonder what their lives are like. Do they have children? What directions have their careers taken? Are their husbands and extended families well? Hopefully I’ll soon find out the answers to these questions.
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