Remember When We . . .

Today I realized that I have to let go.

In the past year we've made so many crazy memories. It'll take me at least a year to scrapbook all of them, but I am going to do it because I don't ever want to forget any of it. It was too crazy and too much fun. But now, our lives are changing. You're about to become a blushing bride and I'm still here studying English and learning how to be a teacher. I'm happy here, and I know you are happy where you are. I didn't think that I'd be okay without you, but we've proven to ourselves that we are strong, brave women and we don't need to see each other day to be okay. I still can't believe that one of my best friends is getting married. Tomorrow, none the less. This portion of your life is going to be the best yet, and I'm so glad that you get to share it with someone as special as Jaren. As much as I don't want to, I have to let go. You aren't "My Aubrey" anymore. I'm not saying that we'll never talk again, or ever see each other after tomorrow. I certainly hope that's not true. I want to know when you are expecting your first baby, when you graduate from cosmetology school, when you buy your first house, when things are difficult and you just need a friend to talk to. And, I hope that you'll be there when I get married, graduate, leave on a mission, or whatever comes my way in the next few years. I don't want to do any of it without you as a friend.

We're lucky that we got to be friends and do all the crazy stuff we've done. So here it is, the Katie and Aubrey year-in review.

Remember when I moved down to Cedar City and you were one of the only people here who cared about me? Remember when you made me promise to stay? It was the best promise I've ever kept.

Remember when you lived two doors down the hall in Juniper and we'd listen to Carly Simon music?

Remember, a year ago when we went on the grand adventure to Payson to meet my little brother for the first time? Remember how we stayed up all night talking the first night and the next night we were asleep by 10:00? Remember how I was fighting with my mom because she was so stressed out about the move? Remember how I was worried that you wouldn't want to be my friend after meeting my family? But you still were.

Remember that weekend that it was just the two of us and you were working on a quilt and I was watching and keeping you company when I should have been doing my homework? Remember how you made me go hot tubbing with you and your friends even though I didn't want to? And then I swore for the first time. Remember, when we got back, we went and looked at Christmas lights?

Remember when we "pretty much scared the shizzle outta you" when we threw pine-cones at your window?

Remember when we had girls night and we watched How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and ate cookie dough ice-cream?

Remember when some days were really hard for both of us? Remember how we always seemed to be there for each other?

Remember when you didn't have a voice and you came in my room and scared Danelle and me to death? Remember the next morning you told me you weren't coming back for the next semester? And then we just sat there and cried for a while.

Remember when we went to Temple Square and looked at the lights?

Remember when you came to visit for a day and a half and stayed in my room and it was just like it used it be? We even went to Denny's in the middle of the night.

Remember when you came down again and we tattooed our bottoms with random "crack" jokes? Remember when you took me driving in Mildred and I cried because I was so scared? I had a sign on my door for almost a month saying "My Aubrey is coming in X days" because I was so excited to see you.

Remember when you called me over the summer to tell me you'd met a shiny new boy? Remember when he kissed you for the first time and you called me all twitterpated to tell me about it? I don't think I've ever heard you so happy.

Remember when you called me and told me he'd proposed? I was in DSW shoes and I started jumping and screaming because I was so excited. Everyone around me thought I was a freak.

Tomorrow, I'll get to see you. You'll be in a beautiful white dress with your new husband by your side. You'll smile and laugh. We'll hug and I'll wish you the best in your new life. I'm so excited for you, for both of you.



"Now my sad little boat floats on out to sea and you're almost out of sight. 'I'll remember you, please don't forget me,' I whisper with all my might. . . "