I’m thankful for a lot of things in my life, but I feel most blessed by the friendships I share. In fact, the friendships I love the most are with people whom I don’t even go to school with*. Lately, I’ve been waking up and feeling an overwhelming sense of being blessed, and I felt like sharing it with the people who have created that. Thank you to these four friends for making me feel like I’ve won the lottery of friendships.

1. The friend back home

Patrick Flannigan, I can truly say that after eight-years of friendship, I know I can always count on you to be the friend that no matter how long we’ve gone without talking, we always pick up right where we left off. One of my favorite things about my visits home from school, aside from seeing my family, is that I get to see you and remind the panhandle of what our laughter sounds like. The memories we have together are priceless: the time we tried (and failed) to have a “no shoes TOMS day” in the eighth grade, those few weeks of our freshmen year of high school where we briefly didn’t like each other and neither of us remember why, or the day our senior year when you drove me to school and right before you got out of the car to pump gas, you came out to me. My favorite memory with you is when you finally got a car at the end of our sophomore year, and we gave the good ‘ol yellow bus to high school a “c’est la vie,” and then about a week or so later you wrecked it and we had to do a walk of shame back on to the bus riding life. All of my friends at Auburn know who you are, and they’re dying to meet you, so please pay Auburn a visit soon. Thank you for being one of my oldest friendships and my favorite neighbor. Love you Patty ❤

2. The friend in another state

Serena Colvin, another friendship that began in the sixth-grade. I know that we’re in it from the long-haul just from the photo of us from the eighth-grade dance. Any two friends who proudly wore those two high-fashion ensembles years ago, and remain friends to this day, will stand the test of time. We’ve gone to Harry Potter midnight premiers together, Whataburger at any given hour, and we’ve even extensively planned a trip to Europe together that will probably never happen because we’re broke. I know you’re considering leaving MSU, and you’ve applied to schools all over, but whether you end up transferring to Auburn or not I know I can always count on you to be the friend who will always be there for a ~venting~ phone call at any hour of the day or a quick text of advice or encouragement. Actually, I’m frightened at the thought of you coming to Auburn. Auburn can handle a lot of things, but I’m not sure if it can handle us together. People can be intimidated by two powerful women being in close radiuses. Knowing us, we could accidentally become in charge of everything and just run the whole school. Thank you for being one of my oldest and most solid friendships, and I can’t wait to see you in two weeks. I’m excited for us to ration one box of $10 pizza for the entire weekend ❤

3. The friend in another country

Ali Klebous, my youngest friendship on this list! I know you’re technically an Auburn student, but you’re in Italy for the next few months, so that qualifies you for this list. I’m not sure if I can put into a short paragraph just how thankful I am for our friendship, but I’m going to try. I’m so incredibly thankful that Jim ‘N Nick’s brought us together this year, because even a couple thousand miles away, I know that we’re still there for each other. I remember one of our first days working together, I completely exploded and told you everything about something that was bothering me. Afterwards, I was afraid that you’d think I was weird because of how quickly I opened up, but you reacted so thoughtful and kindly that I knew you’d become one of my best friends. Our friendship means the world to me because it’s so refreshing to have a close girl friend, at Auburn, that’s also not in my sorority. Thank you for all of our adventures together, Olive Garden, our mutual love of Taylor Swift, the AMAZING cupcakes you gave me on my birthday, and for simply existing. I’m so excited for you to come home and for us to celebrate a true American Thanksgiving together while watching the Iron Bowl, but for now you’re going to have to deal with my long emails about my life! Please eat enough pasta for the two of us. Maybe bring some back.  Much love ❤

4. The friend at my rival school

Mary Katherine Ashford, yes, I saved the best for last!

If you don’t like gushy, cheesy paragraphs or angry people from Wisconsin, I suggest you shut your laptop now.

My platonic soulmate, my concert-going partner, my person who surprisingly loves Taylor Swift as much as I do (yes, it’s possible, and very rare), my aquarius to my leo, my Selena to my Taylor, and my best friend. Our long distance friendship literally inspires me; I don’t think there are any two other people on the planet that share a friendship quite like ours. I’m surprised that it took until my senior year of high school to become close, but I’m so thankful that it did. We’re so different, but so very alike, and we’ve also never argued or got into a disagreement?? Which is weird to me but also super cool??? Anyways. Yes, you go to Bama now, (which is disgusting but I forgive you), so how fitting is it that my very best friend goes to my rival (rival of ALL rivals one could argue) school? We literally balance each other out in every aspect of life. I can’t even put into words a summary of our adventures together, like having floor-seats at the 1989 World Tour Concert™ (Taylor, please don’t sue me for that), being in that small, intimate room together with a two-hundred something people…. one being Jason Mraz and his guitar, or going to Chuy’s and the Summit every chance we get… I could go on for like, years. I would never want to quote the Lonely Island or watch Casey Neistat with anyone else. I know many, many more memories are to come, and that excites me to no end. I actually get excited about our friendship, like, I fangirl over us. I want you to know that know matter what the case is, I will always drop everything and go to you when you need me. Whether you’re in Tuscaloosa or Pace, I’ll be there for you ’cause you’re there for me too<3 Also, see you in one week!!!!!!!!!!

*: I didn’t know how to not end this sentence in a preposition without it sounding awkward. I’m sorry Mrs. Sturgeon!