The Moon at the End of the Dock(s)

I see the moon and the moon sees me.
"Hello moon!"
"Hello me!"

My friend Emily or "Emlow" as I have so lovingly referred to her since 12th grade taught me that little rhyme years ago and her mother taught her. Back in high school a few of my friends and I used to sit out on a dock on Lake Washington, either at Emlow's house or at the tiny little park next to my house. We did it so much and loved it there that we started to refer to it as if it was a common thing that everyone does and knows about.

"Hey, wanna "dock it" tonight?"
"We haven't "docked it" in awhile...."
...and so on.

I spent many of my high school and undergrad nights, when I was home on vacation, there with my friends from my childhood and teenage years. Emlow, Max, Becky, Lane, Rebecca (Rebecca and I might not have docked it but she's important to these years!) and others hung out on the dock watching the moon and the Seattle lights on the lake often in the middle of the night and we talked about boys, friends, life, the future, etc.

It feels like a life time ago since we have all graduated high school and college, travelled the world, one is married and another engaged, changed jobs dozens of times between us, and accomplished a lot. AND yet, it also feels like we were just on that dick last week in some ways.

My 10 year high school reunion was this month, which I missed of course being in the Middle East. With the exception of wanting to go so I could "rage" with Max about everyone and everything, I don't mind missing it at all.

All of the people that I really still need and want in my life from those days, I already have them (thankfully!). In the last 10 years I have graduated from undergrad (barely!) volunteered in South Africa, lived in Botswana (2 years), went to graduated school in Boston (2 years), and am now living in Jordan (1 year). I've met a lot of new, interesting and fascinating people all over the world for which I am extremely grateful and happy to have met and many that I still have in my life! I have experienced new cultures, new traditions, new lows and highs, and many adventures...but I will say that with all of moving around, distance, inability to skype or email often for some of those years....these amazing people have stuck with me.

Living abroad has a way of shaking you and forcing all of the people in your life that don't have a very strong grip on you, to fall off. It forces people to have to decide if it is worth it to make those extra efforts to stay in contact. It makes you analyze your relationship to understand what you want and need out of it and if you can still have that even while apart. There is nothing wrong with those that "fall off," it's just that not everyone is meant to remain close with everyone. Thats just life.

For those few who I have known since I was 12, 15, and 17, they have grabbed on and I have grabbed on to them and I am insanely happy that we did! I'm so thankful that despite being away more often than I am home, they are still some of my best friends!!! <3