Everyone needs a little Natalie . . .

It is once again a beautiful Sunday morning that I've decided to celebrate with a pot of Community Coffee and my laptop. Definitely have other things I should be doing right now . . .

My new sneakers are crying out for some pavement time.

I can see an intimidating stack of study materials cluttering up my kitchen table.

The message light is blinking on my phone.

Just heard a crash from the bathroom that I'm pretty sure represents the fall of a towering laundry pile that has been ignored a minute too long.

But, here I sit. With my coffee cup and my computer. Happy.

In my current line of vision I can see a framed picture of me and one of my oldest friends. The picture was taken last year at the the Kansas City International Airport and we both have the biggest, cheesiest smiles on our faces. Airports don't tend to illicit that response from me so I can only assume it was the company.

I'm sure some of you are just itching to argue that the infamous Haller smile only comes in one photographic variety - big and cheesy. While there may be a tiny speck of truth in that I'll assure you that time spent with this friend invites that smile, camera or no. You'll just have to believe me. Because I've decided this friend will be the topic of today's coffee-influenced blog.

We'll refer to her as Buggie. Not under any kind of dramatic delusion of protecting her identity. I mean, with my current readership of about 3 people I don't really think that's necessary. Do you Sarah, Ian, and Gigi? :) We'll call her Buggie because I do, actually, call her Buggie. And have since the fourth grade . . .

That's when our story begins. Mid-way through my fourth grade year we had a new student added to my class. She wasn't new to town, that would have been exciting enough (small town life!). She was skipping a grade! I can't begin to tell y'all how much this impressed and intimidated my little 10 year old self. It may actually be the last time I was intimidated by someone. This may actually be the turning point at which I would always subsequently be described on initial meetings as intimidating. An aside: I swear I'm not scary!

Back to Buggie. I had to make her my friend! But how would I set myself apart from all the other fourth graders vi-ing for her attention? I know! I would make myself equally as impressive. She was smart, right? Then I would showcase my own intelligence. How to accomplish this? I racked my preteen brain. And then an idea came to me through what I can only assume was Divine intervention. I went to my locker and got out the one thing that I could think of that would let this cool, cool girl know exactly who she was dealing with. I got out my Book-It pin.

Book-It. Do you know it? A Pizza Hut sponsored program to encourage young students to read by bribing them with a personal pan pizza. Wondering if it still exists? There I go, digressing again.

I can only conclude that the sight of me with my (completed) Book-It pin attached to my shirt had the desired effect of showing Buggie that she would be remiss in not making me her BFF straight away. You may be doubting the power and allure of said Book-It pin. But it's 19 years later and she's still my oldest and dearest friend. Conclusive, no? :)

Buggie? Almost 20 years? Can you believe that?

Our friendship has meant the world to me. It survived petty fifth grade squabbles. Remember trying to make up a dance routine to Faith in CB's basement? It persisted through the occasional hell of middle school. The best day of eight grade for me was the day you moved back to WMS and into my locker:) It survived high school and vastly different interests. And when most childhood friendships tend to falter, ours only became stronger when we both left the relative safety of the 'Burg for our chosen colleges. We've travelled together. We've emailed advice over miles of country, even miles of ocean. We've shared our lives with each other.

Ok. This is a little freaky. Listening to the Killers while blogging . . . Believe Me Natalie just came on. You see? Our friendship? Divinely influenced:)

Buggie, you're still the first person I want to share any boy story with. My current boy has "some brown hair and some brown eyes" and it makes me smile to think of all the boys we've described that way. I love you sweetie. And I'm so looking forward to the next 20 years of friendship with you . . .