Here is my personal ode to you.

Through endless stages of my insanity you have stuck by my side for years and boy am I lucky to have you.

Who would've thought that by us meeting in elementary school that years later we would still be bonded during our college years? I never would have guessed that we would have become a family as we have. Yet here we are, and the time spent apart at different schools cease to matter. I didn't expect the numerous birthday cakes, beach days, late night discussions, vacation trips and shopping trips we would have--most people claim that friendships end after high school.

1. Thank you for being you

For not changing who you are and what you value, for remembering what's important to you and for allowing me to continue hopping in and out of your life. For continuing to enjoy the nerdy things, and little quirks you've had since you were little. Life hands us obstacles and yet you've managed to keep it together.

2. Thank you for being there

Whether it's months later and we haven't talked often due to hectic schedules, or just moments after we've gone to our individual homes. You answer my phone calls, my texts, my idiotic Facebook posts. You go out of your comfort zone, almost daily just so we can try new things and can stick together.

3. Thank you for dealing with me

You get to see me at all stages, whether it's riddled with anxiety and sadness or hyped up on lack of sleep and 4 cups of coffee. You spend days with me just sitting in silence, watching Netflix as well as spending other days running errands and babbling nonstop. For some reason, you stick around to do it all again with me. Or maybe you just find me mildly entertaining. Either way, I'm grateful for the fact that you choose to answer when I ask if you want to get food or go shopping or help free me of boredom.

4. You might as well be my sister.

We can spend weeks together, doing chores, going shopping, whining about what it's like to be adults and how we'd much rather retreat to our rooms. Even spending the day playing video games or binge watching Netflix is fine. We start to adapt to each other's schedules, finding time to talk when we can and just check in. We begin sharing phrases, not noticing that we are starting to complete each other's thoughts or respond the same way. When the summer rolls around, it's like we never left.

Overall, this is my way of thanking you. For being yourself even as time changes, for greeting me back into your life on a daily basis, and for dealing with all the craziness I have balled into one body. Without you I wouldn't be the person I am today and life would be so dull. I wouldn't strive to do better and dream as big without such bright lights in my life.