For My Dearest Claire

So Claire:

Despite currently being 1,593 miles away from you right now, I thought I'd make it seem like I was a teensy bit closer by the wonderful power of the interwebs :)

First of all, I wanna just say thank you (and Ron and Sally and Lucy) to infinity and beyond for taking me in as your sidekick for a week (or two if you count Disney). It was truly one of the greatest times I've had in a long while and if it weren't for your family's generosity, I wouldn't have been able to spend that extra time with our lovely graduates :)

For the record, it's been less than two weeks and I already miss you guys more than words can explain.

I'm gonna miss those Frosty Freez detours and those stargazing nights and watching movies with beautiful people in them <3 (ehem Narnia ehem) I'm gonna miss making nutella pancake monstrosities with you and Maeve and waking up to your domestic rituals each morning ;) I'm gonna miss campfires and smores and cleaning up after people's messes. I'm gonna miss car rides where we blasted Sleeping With Sirens's "Fuck You" while kind little old people just happened to be in the car next to us. I'm gonna miss taking long walks and pretending like we were productive because we both gave each other a history lesson on the way. I'm gonna miss Lucy's tail-whipping and her poor, abused little penguin XD I'm gonna miss accidentally matching clothes and putting on makeup in front of the mirror together. I'm gonna miss having an older sister around.

Now, the only reason I'm not 100% sad about this is because I'm almost entirely positive (if I wish hard enough) that it'll all get to happen again. And sooner than later, we'll be bitching about school and assignments and auditions again, but there will be little moments of heaven in between and it's those moments I'm looking forward to :)

Claire, I know this sounds ridiculous to say cuz I know to some people it's not that big of a deal, but I'm now the age you were when I met you. Crazy, huh? Two years sure flew by fast and if I have any say in the matter, I consider myself lucky to have witnessed the beautiful, courageous and intelligent young woman you've become over the time that I've known you.

You should know this already but you're more than just one of my best friends–you're like family to me. You've been there for me when I felt like I had no one else to turn to and you've inspired me to do so many things whether you know it or not. For one, it was because of you that I started this blog. I thought how cool it was for you to take the time to write not just for yourself, but for all of us and how dedicated you were no matter what. Seeing what you do everyday just amazes me and I will never fully comprehend how you do it. You just do.

You're stunning, and talented, and clever, and funny, and so unbelievably kind, sometimes you don't even know. You're such a genuine person and I am so, so very lucky to be a part of your life. I'm hoping to keep it that way for as long as I possibly can :)

Now before this turns into a mush-with-an-extra-side-of-cheese fest, I just wanted to say Happy 17th.

He's dug this hole way too deep
And now he's just trying to keep
Looking up instead of at his feet
But he's been blind because he's seventeen

Seventeen–EON

It was my turn to sing it to you ;)

Here's to many wonderful years more <3

Hasta la proxima!

Much love xoxo

Maya