To My Best Friend In The Navy,

For as long as I have known you, you always wanted to join the military. You want to travel and to be your own person, and you knew that the military could do that for you, so when you enlisted it never surprised me. You are one of the most determined people I know, once you set your mind to whatever you are doing, you are unstoppable. Joining the Navy has been something you set your mind to, and so far it has paid off. I am so proud of the fact that you want to serve our country. And there are many other reasons why I am proud of you. At college, all of my friends know who you are because I talk about you all the time. They should know by now how much of a bad-ass my best friend is.

“I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.” -Unknown Author

Distance has been tough, because this is the farthest and the longest time period we have been away from each other. We used to see each other all the time in high school, and the summer before you left, we spent every single weekend together, not to mention all the other times in between. Since then you’ve been to Chicago, to Pensacola, and now San Diego, while I stay here in Colorado going to school. Even though you are thousands of miles away from me, I know for a fact you are my true best friend. No one could ever replace you because you are the one who knows me best. When you came home for Christmas, it was like nothing had changed, when both of our lives really have. But that to me is what is important, as we are changing, our friendship isn’t. We are growing closer together even though our distance is so far from each other. You have no idea how much I value that about our friendship.

Yes, it is sad that our journeys are completely different, but we luckily have the access to call, text or Skype each other. If we did not have that, Lord knows I would be going crazy without you. It was hard enough when we had to send letters back and forth to each other while you were at boot camp. We may not talk every day, but that is okay. It only means we will have more to talk about the next time we do talk. However, when something bad happens to me, like at two in the morning, you would answer my call no matter what. It has been difficult not having you here, because you would have been here to hug me in those instances. However, if I did have a huge emergency I know you would have hopped on a plane and been back in Colorado in a heartbeat. That is true friendship.

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” –Unknown Author

Being away from you has been a learning experience. I have learned over a year and half that distance cannot tear two people apart, especially when they mean so much to you. I learned that I will always be able to count on you despite your distance. Also, it does not matter how many people we meet and become friends with, I know that we could never replace one another. We are stuck with one another forever, because frankly you know too much.

Please know, I am so proud of you and what you do for our country. You have proved yourself in many ways to many people, and you will continue to do so over the years. You will continue to be amazing, because of your hard work and determination. You are my sailor, and I cannot wait till I get to see you. We will share our new stories, reminisce on old stories, and fantasize about the future. Most importantly we will laugh and giggle, and get in some kind of trouble like we always do. It seems like forever until I will get to see you again, but it will all be worth it when we do reconnect. When it happens, will are going to have the most epic running hugs ever.

Love,
Your Best Friend Back Home