you gotta have friends...

Today's challenge prompt is: My best friend is: and I'm going to repost this

However, my best friend outside of family is Valerie. We've been friends since 1983-ish, my junior year of high school, her sophomore year of high school. We had mutual friends and hung around. In college, we had several honors program classes together and go to know each other better. Then she became the President of the Student Senate and I was the secretary--so we got working together as well as having classes together. In 1987 we ended up going to school in Ireland together which was the adventure of a lifetime! We've had one awkward phase of our relationship which lasted for a few months, but otherwise, we've been extremely close. She married and moved to New Jersey but eventually found her way back to Maine. We picked up where we left off.

She is one of the most generous people I've ever known--giving her time, attention, and service to those in need. She is creative and clever. She loves reading and gets excited about visiting bookstores, just like I do. Always ready for an adventure, sometimes being a mom prevents her spontaneity, but never her spirit. She is a thoughtful mother to two wonderful kids, I enjoy watching them grow and mature. Her love of learning is infectious, she works at professional development and seeks out unique opportunities. She is a devoted daughter, mother, and friend.