I visited Greenville over the weekend to attend a birthday celebration for my best friend Stacy, otherwise known as Duck. We’ve had that nickname for each other for about 20 years, in reference to a British man I had dated — he was always saying everything was “just ducky!” We loved that phrase and have made it a symbol of our friendship. If we see ducks, a duck sign…anything ducky — we always stop and take a picture.
I met Stacy when we were in elementary school, but she actually lived directly behind my house. I thought she was the coolest person in the world with her wild, curly hair and how she snorted when she laughed! She still has beautiful, curly locks and still snorts! Some of the best times of my life have been spent with Stacy as well as some of the worst times…she prayed with us as my Mama was dying and she was in the room with my brother and me when Daddy died. My parents loved Stacy like she was their own daughter. Not only are we best friends, we truly are like sisters.
For her birthday this year we went to dinner with a few friends and saw a movie — she didn’t want a loud party or some kind of themed event — she just wanted to be with the people she loved and enjoy an evening out. It still gets loud though because we are loud people who laugh A LOT about EVERYTHING!
I’m extremely blessed to have a friend like Stacy, who is there for me at the drop of a hat in good times and bad — and because we don’t live in the same town anymore, we make a point to talk at least twice a week. I also visit Greenville as often as possible to see her and my other family members. We have a committed friendship of more than 40 years and that takes work — nothing can endure this long without effort — but it really is a joy and seems effortless.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote — “the only way to have a friend is to be one.”
