Ode to a friend

Permit me, if you will, a moment to reminisce about my early childhood.

When I was 3 or 4 years old, I had an imaginary friend. Yes, I'm willing to admit it. (My husband likes to tease me about it, but I just shrug it off. I think it's healthy for a child's intellectual development.) Her name was Leisel. I don't remember how old I was when I stopped 'playing' with my friend Leisel, but eventually I grew out of playing with imaginary friends, and just talked to my boring self instead.

Fast forward 20 years....

I move to a new city, state, ward. I have no friends, but I do have a fabulous husband (who is new to the Navy) and 2 great kids. The youngest was 10 months or so. I had been called to serve in the nursery the first week I attended church, and had a terrible time trying to meet new people. So, a few Sundays later, I was changing Nora in the mother's lounge. There was another woman sitting in there, nursing a beautiful blond baby boy. I was absolutely DESPERATE to make some friends. So, I decided to strike up a conversation with her. It went something like this:

"Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm new to the ward. Are you new too?"

"Yes, I'm new. I've only been here 3 weeks"

"Me too! Where did you move from?"

"South Carolina. We lived in Charleston."

"Wow, that's great. We moved from Columbia SC. My husband is in the Navy."

"Mine too."

"What did you say your name was?"

"Leisel."

You can imagine my surprise when she told me her name. I had to rush back to nursery and didn't have time to talk to her, so I asked her for her phone number and promised to call her that week. That afternoon, I got home from church and was telling Shawn all about my mother's room visit. I said, "So you'll never guess who I met at church today, a girl named Leisel." He looked at me like I was insane. Then he smiled and said something like, "Really? That's interesting. So you met your imaginary friend." The funny thing was, he thought I was MAKING IT UP!!! He thought I was either serious and crazy and had started to pretend that I had a friend named Leisel, or that I was just playing a joke on him. It was several weeks before he actually met her, and he really thought I was joking until I introduced them!

I don't think I told her about the imaginary friend thing for a while. We spent hours and hours together those first few months, and what an amazing girl! I was pregnant and SICK!!! I was also a little depressed and a total basket-case every single time she came to my house. She would get me glasses of water after I had lost my cookies in the porcelain express, she'd come and collect my toddlers while I was visiting the porcelain express, and she'd give me one of her infamous hugs every time I started to feel a little sad or afraid.

She is moving in a month. My little heart has been breaking all week just thinking about it, so I do my best to ignore it. Sometimes I wonder why on earth I bother making friends in the military. Someone always has to move. But, in the midst of my pitiful musings, I always come to the conclusion that it's worth it. Why?

Because she is the best friend I've made in my adult life. Thanks Leisel, for all you've done for me! I can't wait to come and visit you!!!!