Easy Days Like These

Dear Friend,

This school year, I've become better acquainted with Lista, a girl my age. We were friends last year, and at some points I think we were very close. In my stupidity, I drifted away from her and spent my time and energy on a boy instead which ended up being a really stupid, predictable mistake.

Lista is completely gorgeous, has a sweet temper, kind eyes, perfect advice, a reasonable disposition, and the most patient ear. We're very different. I know I'm often stern, have an uncontrollable temper at times, and I'm neither soft spoken nor patient. We sort of balance each other out.

This year, we've become what I would call the best of friends. It seemed like everyday, we looked for each other even before we realized we were becoming close friends. At first, there were awkward days. I'm used to big crowds of semi close friends, so it was a weird change for me to step into her world of just two or three people. Every lunch, we spent together, just the two of us and some other people now and then. It's been a long, sometimes painstaking, relationship to build, but I finally feel like we understand each other. I couldn't appreciate a friendship more. Lista taught me how a real relationship is built. I don't really know how to explain how she taught me, but she did. I've learned you can be friends with basically anyone is both people are willing to try. Honestly, she's like the last person I'd see wanting to be friends with me or me seeking out. But thanks to effort and a love, we've become friends forever. Defiantly.

Today, we went shopping at the mall for a few hours, dipping in and out of stores and running between items. We went to my house after we got all "shopped out." I love watching movies, but Lista sees no point to them. I love where they take you and what you learn and the beautiful stories they tell and how they whisk you away to a whole new perspective. To me, it's an adventure. She sees it as time you could have spent doing something else. Guess we were raised differently. More like I know we were. But today, I picked out a movie, threw a million pillows on my bed and we watched Phenomenon, one of my all time favorites. I don't know how to tell her how much I appreciated that she let me show her what I love. She hasn't seen many movies at all and my family devourers them and then we critic each chapter in full detail. It was really special to me that she'd sit down with me and allow me to show her the kind of journey these movies take me on. I'm not even sure why. But it was.

We watched a few cool movies on YouTube, first Dumb Ways to Die then The Butterfly Circus. Very different, but both really great in their own way. Dad asked me to take Meg some food at work and we wanted to stop by Target to get some food and look at their makeup supplies. Lista's parents disapprove of sugary cereal so of course, Lista loves it. I bought her favorite most sugary kind and we're gonna leave it at my house so she can come over whenever she wants and eat it. Then she bought me my favorite salsa, the dear. When we went to check out, Ren, a senior from last year, was the "checker outer person." It was good to see him! He's a cutie and I've always enjoyed talking to him. He's intelligent and kind which are both very praiseworthy qualities. So, yeah, he's cool. Found out he's in Lista's stake which was kinda awkward for me. See, I don't live in my school boundaries. Everyone else is in each others neighborhoods and then there's me all the way across town. It's great.

We stopped by Lista's house and then went to Meg's work to help her close up. I got everything thing done in under 20 minutes while Meg did her till. Lista was a total sweetheart and helped me out. She had to go home but I hadn't even finished dinner at home before she called and said Rusty had invited us to go rock climbing with him. He's a pretty cool kid. Nice, but he lacks interest. I like exciting people, someone who keeps me laughing. I have to make most of the funny comments around him. There's nothing wrong with that, just not my preference. Something about him bothers me, though I do like hanging out with him. Mom thinks he likes me. Lista likes him a little. He just got out of his second messed up relationship. No thanks, I'm good. No desire for pointless drama on any scale.

We had fun though. I got a 5.10c, though I did fall once. I enjoyed it, though the skin on my hands is rough, and red. I really like climbing. It's exciting, a challenge and thrilling. I like using my body to tackle a (reasonable) adventure.

Basically, today was full of simple, happy memories. Those are important. Stock up on the cheerful little moments for there is no doubt a time will come when you will need them. They will help you survive and will come to you like water in a desert. I'm lucky to have friends I can make sweet memories with.

P.S. Dear Friend, I've decided to friend zone every boy I know. Seems safer for them and me. Yay! Now, here's an intriguing question: how do you friend zone a guy kindly, but obviously? O.o