Katie is the genius (not to mention Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychotherapist and Parenting Expert) behind Practical Parenting and I have learned so much from her posts about being a better mom.
Her potty training tips are awesome, her post, The Great Mom Debate is one of my favorites and she even inspired the Valentine’s Day love notes I made for Lucas.
I am happy to have Katie here today with a letter to her friend Sarah. Friendships are so important and the ones that stand the test of time are unbelievably precious. We should all be so lucky to have friendships as strong as the one Katie and Sarah share.
Thank you so much to Tonya for having me here today. I have loved her letters for quite some time, as she often echoes the thoughts that run through my mind. Her letters are beautiful and always heartfelt, no matter the topic at hand. I often leave here thinking that I should do this too…write down the things I should have said or still have the opportunity to say. When she started Letters for You it was almost as if she heard my silent plea. I’m not sure that that I would find a way to sit down and write the letters that should be written on my own time, but I am honored to have the chance to share one here.
Dear Sarah,
It was over 36 years ago that our mothers first planted the seed of friendship for us. It was over 36 years ago that they both thought, thank god, a playmate for my little girl.
What started as a blind date in the sand box flourished into a friendship that I’m not sure even they envisioned. What began as digging, board games, and Strawberry Shortcake grew into the best friendship I have ever known.
In you I found another sister. A sister who would balance me out without the added sibling rivalry (we’ve never once felt the urge to compete). A sister who would stand tall by side and never, ever waiver. A sister who would always remind me of home.
Through countless tubs of Rainbow Chip frosting and repeated viewings of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, we survived those tumultuous years referred to as “puberty”.
Through bowling trips with John and Russ, weekends skiing in Vermont, and long summer nights full of big dreams, we conquered high school. We escaped the mean girls, played sports against each other without hard feelings, and laughed our way through high school dances.
Through beers, stories, dinners, and a few more beers, we enjoyed every moment of our time in Boston. Despite attending different colleges, we always found time to just be us.
But it wasn’t always easy…
At times, we’ve lived continents apart. At times, we’ve lived states apart. Today we live 3,000 miles apart. The distance has never felt larger.
We’ve helped each other through some very difficult life events. Events we never expected to endure.
Together we’ve survived suicide, cancer, infertility, and family strife. Oh, the never-ending family strife.
Together we said goodbye to my father, who always considered himself your father too, and my Nana, who was just as much yours.
Together we remained strong as we waited for the signs of remission when cancer hit a family member. Together we celebrated good health and new beginnings.
Together we fought my long and exhausting battle with infertility. We talked, cried, and laughed our way through the ups and downs until we reached the end.
Together we welcomed four babies into this world, just as we always knew we would.
Together we learned to separate our families of origin from our growing families.
Together we learned to find our voices and speak up for the needs of our own little families.
Together we learned to walk on.
Friendship is a funny thing. At times, it can come and go. As some friendships fade away, new friendships emerge. Some people say that best friends don’t exist beyond high school, that adult friendships are different.
But I know better.
I know that some friendships are meant to last a lifetime.
Your friendship has been the one constant all of the years. Your friendship has enabled me soak up every bit of enjoyment from the good times and to just survive the not-so-good times. Your friendship has taught me to be strong, loyal, and loving.
Above all, your friendship has taught me the value of just being me. And for that, I will always love you.
Love,
Katie
Katie & Sarah circa 1978
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Thank you, thank you! For your kind words and for having me here. Finally sitting down to write this letter was exactly what I needed 🙂
xoxo
Beautiful letter, Katie. You’re so blessed to have this friendship.
One of my oldest friends is someone I’ve known since we were 4 (that’s 32 years) and we still meet once a month for breakfast when we can. There’s just nothing like a comfortable friendship like that.
Thank you, Alison. You’re right…there’s nothing like that comfortable friendship 🙂
What a sweet letter to your friend. I’m so happy you have such a great person in your life Katie.
Thanks, Jessica. There’s nothing quite like it, and I’m so grateful to have her.
This is such a beautiful letter and a wonderful reflection on your friendship. Consider yourself lucky to have such a great and long lasting friendship.
I do, Julia. I consider myself so very lucky 🙂
What a wonderful letter Katie. I’m glad you have Sarah as a friend…what a blessing!
Thanks, Jody! She brings so much happiness to our lives.
Beautiful, as always Katie. Friends like that are such a blessing!
Thanks, Elizabeth! I am a very lucky girl 🙂
I am so happy for you that you have a friend like Sarah who has been part of your life for so long. This makes me want to hug my girlfriends 🙂
Me too, Angela! I wish I could hop a plane and go spend the day with her!
Crying a huge river over here…this is absolutely beautiful and SO close to my heart. A friend and I tossed our one year-old daughters together 12 years ago and this is exactly what has happened. They are very different, yet very much the same. They have a bond I just can’t explain but you just did.
They will enter high school next fall together and I pray their bond gets them through some rough patches.
Love this, and Tonya? You were so smart to invite Katie over. xoxo
Oh Sherri….I love that! I hope your daughter has the same experience I did with her first friendship. To have someone who you know is absolutely always there no matter the miles? You can’t put a price on that…
Thank you for this lovely comment. xoxo
What a lovely letter. How blessed you are to have such a long-lasting and close friendship!
Thank you. I am very lucky, indeed 🙂
So, so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your heart here today, Katie. I feel like I know you even more now than I did before reading this. And what a friendship – you are one of the lucky ones!
Thanks, Missy. I am a very lucky girl to have such support in my life.
Ohmygoodness Katie – this? Is stunning.
You captured the adoration ad strength of this friendship – perfectly.
(Beautifully, and lovingly written.)
xo
Thanks, Galit. It was hard to write in many ways…the tears kept flowing. But, oh so very therapeutic. This friendship has gotten me everywhere. xo
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Gifts of any amount to LeBow College add up to help fund scholarships,Ask Issue 2013Issue Features: A conversation on race with Africana Studies Co-Director Yaba Blay,Ask Issue 2012Issue Features: A preview of the Colleges new “BEES” department; the promising future of Elias Okwara, Twenty-four hours of daylight? cause disorientation and throw off basic bodily function. Drexel researchers are working on a solution that brings the benefits of natural light inside with the flip of a switchDrexel’s Dr Don McEachron and Dr Eugenia Ellis note that while hospitals and living centers are designed to keep patients in a safe comfortable sterile environment a consideration that sometimes goes by the wayside is residents’ exposure to natural light Ambient artificial light in these facilities allows health care workers to conduct their jobs and monitor residents day and night But McEachron and Ellis believe the residents could experience a much “To keep organisms aligned both inside and out Circadian rhythms –using what is sometimes called a ‘biological clock’- synchronize to the daily cycle of light and darkness In artificial or built environments constant or unpredictable lighting can cause a failure of alignment and contribute to a loss of temporal health Humans that are ‘out of tune’ are more susceptible to a variety of problems issues and disorders” McEachron saidTheir solution is a two-foot-square LED light fixture that can be adjusted to mimic the changing color and intensity of natural sunlight thus simulating a natural day-night light cycle inside the health care facilityEllis who holds appointments in both the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design’s architecture & interiors department and the College of Engineering’s civil architectural and environmental engineering department is designing the light McEachron a chronobiologist in Drexel’s School of Biomedical Engineering Science and Health Systems is providing the circadian know-how to tune them so they are in sync with the natural lightThe “Daylight” fixtures will get their first trial run at the St Francis Country Day Home a senior living facility in Delaware County Ellis is currently finalizing a prototype and hopes to have the lights installed at St Francis this summerMcEachron will work with Dr Elizabeth Gonzalez a professor in Drexel’s College of Nursing and Health Professions to conduct a comparative study over the course of several months to monitor the effect of the lights on the patients’ sleep habits energy levels and overall quality of lifeIf successful the group hopes to make these lights available for retrofitting health care facilities so that patients can experience a normal light-dark cycle even if it’s not coming from the sunclaimtoken-51544eada4cf6Our website uses cookies which helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site. please complete the .Drexel LeBow’s Finance Department boasts an award-winning group of faculty members who are leading researchers and dedicated teachers. ease of movement for patients.
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