You’ve probably heard that quote somewhere, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” Well for me, an unexpected friendship happened when I was busy feeling sorry for myself that I didn’t have any friends. Kristin Louise Alstott and I have pretty much…nothing in common. In fact our favorite sports teams are baseball rivals. She shaved her head once, I cried when I had to get a trim last month. She’s not that emotional, I cry almost everyday. She throws up all the time ;), I hate throwing up. I’m sure you get the picture. 

But then Kristin became Annie’s roommate, and the rest is history. We spent tons of drunken nights together, made Annie meow like a cat before she could have any chips, ate lunch on west, went to In N Out, made fun of Alysa, convinced Annie to not be such a grandma and go out with us, had a sleepover on the last night we’d all be together, joked about Estelle and all her black friends, hid from Matt, fought about the Dodgers and the Angels, tried to make Skittles vodka like twenty times, almost got kicked out of BevMo, questioned other people’s outfit choices (Kris, you know who I mean), almost got electrocuted trying to jumpstart Estelle’s jank van. The list could go on forever.

I think what made this friendship so fulfilling is that we shared this understanding that we’re all dealing with shit, and you don’t have to know exactly what’s going on with the other person; it’s enough to know you’re in it together, you’re in life together. You don’t have to share every little piece of your life with someone to know they have your back, to know they get you. The life in them is there for life in you. 

And now as Kristin is packing up to leave for basic training in three days, it gets tough to think about how she won’t be making any trips up to school with her fannypack anymore. We won’t go buy whipped cream vodka and chocolate milk. We won’t walk to Panda Express anymore. We won’t have any crazy dance parties and throw shoes at the ceiling to piss off the girls upstairs. The only reason I’m not too sad is because I know this job is going to be the perfect fit for you, Kris. You are strong and smart and funny and amazing. I’m so grateful to know you, and I can’t wait to send you tons of mail when you get to the east coast. I’ll miss all your blog posts and I’ll miss all your impressive uses of the word “fuck.” I’ll miss how you laugh when Annie says something stupid. I’ll miss how you try to argue with me that the Angels are a better team when the Dodgers have won the Series six times (which is five more times than the Angels). I’ll miss random texts from you and eating lunch together. I’ll miss you so much, my little niece, but I’m so excited for you and this new journey.

I love you times infinity, Kristin Alstott!