Laura Salley

Continuing with my recent theme of thanking those dear to me…

While my mind’s been spinning with all the new people in my life, someone who’s been around longer than any other friend really deserves my attention: Laura Salley. Although we’re 300 miles apart, it doesn’t seem like much has changed. We’re always on the same page, even when we don’t have time to share everything. I can just call her up and rave or complain and it would never matter. She’ll always be Laura. I’ll always be Jared. There’s no worry about the other fading away. Because if and when everyone else disappears she’ll remain.

I didn’t get many cards this year for Valentine’s Day. She was the only friend that sent me a card via mail…and she also sent me an egreeting. And I’m pretty sure she was the only friend who sent me a handwritten birthday card this year. While everyone from home seems to be going their own way, she still finds time.

We’re very different people. We do different things for fun and have different outlooks on life. She’s the quiet girl. I’m the loud guy. But we complement each other and, more than that, we’re just consistent. She was the listener when my family was going through rough times. She was the de facto pretty girl in my life before I started dating. She was the friend at the playground when we just wanted to get away from it all. And she was the night rebel when I needed to live vicariously.

Though we’re changing, I’ve still probably spent more time on the phone with Laura than any other person. I remember she was the first girl I ever asked for her number (on a schoolbus, no less). We just have so much history to ever part. I just want to thank her for being there, even though so much of our worlds have changed. She defines for me what presence is, even when apart. Thanks for that, L… my dandelion. I hope everybody can have one friend like her…