When I went off to college, I was a very emotionally immature 16. Without the help of five very special women, I would not have made it past the first semester, let alone graduation.
Cristy Greenwood and I had been friends since the eighth grade, when her family moved next door to mine. Cris and I decided to room together at BYU, in Heritage Halls. Heritage had six-person suites; three bedrooms with two twin beds, a desk and two dressers; and a kitchen/sitting room. Added to our group were: Jenny Howard, Cristy's cousin; Stephanie Bates and Linda Young, Highland High School classmates of Jenny's; and Carrie Vincent, a Spanish Fork girl randomly-assigned to us by the fickle finger of fate.
We laughed together, cried together, got mad at each other, supported each other, shared boys and clothes, made no-bake cookies, saw some off to missions, and saw some get married over the course of six years. These women became my very best friends.
Over the course of time, we all got married and dispersed. I kept in touch with Stephanie, made easier with the advent of email. I received Christmas cards from everyone, getting the yearly update and pictures. occasionally I'd talk to Linda or Jenny. In fact, Jenny and her family (9 people!) stayed in my tiny New York apartment in the summer of 2005, while I traveled in Europe.
For years, we had all talked about a Felt 35 (our apartment) reunion. This year, we finally did it. On February 8th, Cris, Jenny and Linda, as well as Linda's 2-year-old daughter, Katie, arrived at my home in San Diego. Carrie and Stephanie arrived the next day. We spent the weekend as 18-year-olds again, albeit wiser, more experienced 18-year-olds. Stephanie later remarked to her husband, Rich, "It was like we had just been away at home for Christmas, and had come back together."
We played games until 12:30 am, talked about our families, our experiences, took pictures and went to dinner and lunch together. Most wonderfully, we went to the temple. To me, that was a preview of heaven, having my "sisters" with me in that most sacred of all places.
Sunday afternoon came all too soon. It was hard to see everyone go, but we've made plans to see each other more often and to keep in close contact. Carrie went home and made all of us scrapbooks, including pictures from college as well as from the weekend. It was one of the nicest gifts I've ever received.
So, when other friendships have been forgot, ours will still be hot!
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