We have had the absolute pleasure this whole week to host
Beauty’s BFF (aka: Vanilla Bean2 (VB) at Trent.
And I think my favorite part of this week has been
watching these two together. They have been super good friends (part of the
famous gang of 5) since kindergarten but as of about 3 years ago their friendship
hit a whole new level and they have been inseparable ever since specifically
the two of them. I have always admired and loved watching the friendship between
them, but this week gave me an even better chance to watch them in action.
There is no other real way to describe it than the word “Adoration” From both sides. They simply adore each other in every way
possible. I have never seen two faces light up more than from their
togetherness.
Their friendship is like a beautiful symphony-it is like
every friend I have and every friendship I have and all its most splendid parts
wrapped up into one perfect package. I am not sure I have ever been witness to
a friendship as pure and as complete as this one.
They never ever get tired of each other. It’s almost like
they need no space from each other and don’t need anyone else. Not once have
they taken even a moment alone all week and I have very rarely seen them text
or chat with any other friends (and they have many many others!). It made me
realize that probably 95% of the time Beauty is testing or chatting it is with
VB as with her here, Beauty has no interest in the phone or technology or
anything else. Everything she needs is right in front of her.
They are so physical together too which is so unique to
that stage of life as girls who are best friends. Constantly cuddling, holding,
tickling, touching eachothers faces. It is so adorable to watch
Then there is the teasing-the banter that goes back and
forth-the gentle teasing.
Then the shared interests-did three 750 piece puzzles
while here, the constant music in the background, the dancing (of course), the
love of making frozen drinks and bearing fruit and eating candy. Despite their
shared fear of spiders they slept out on dock on bali bed two nights in a row. They
also both go to bed super late and both wake up super late too.
Both totally athletic and sporty. Golf the two of them
nine holes, wakeboarding, waterskiing, trampoline scary tumbling and flips.
They totally bring out the best in each other and both
build each other up so much. They are good girls.
We had an amazing week together full of really crap
weather (old, windy, rain, storms) bundled up in hoodies and sweaters most the time.
But we had a total blast anyways. Went to la luge and tremblant for dinner, out
to a delicious lunch in our little village, girls played golf, went boating
many times despite the bad weather and mostly sat under the tarp in the rain,
made delicious lunches and dinners, watched three full movies that I bawled in
because the kid was dying of cancer, we sailed together, played many word games
together, had a fancy raclette night, had a super bonfire a la trivial pursuit.
Laughed a ton. It was a super week and tonight at 8:00pm we will be sad to see
VB2 go. VB1 will miss her. I have called them the Vanilla Beans for a few years
nowJ
What I have liked most about watching this friendship
this week is knowing …how completely safe and adored my daughter is. That a friend in the world loves her to such a
degree is so beautiful and comforting for me. We also talked a lot about their values about
teenage stuff (drugs, smoking etc) and had some great conversations. Beauty is
in good company-they share many of the same goals and values. These two are
natural leaders and hopefully will set the anti- drug pace amongst their peers
that they feel so strongly about.
This week Beauty and I were also the closest we have been in our lives. Playful, affectionate, respectful.
It has not always been an easy road for the two of us-and this week was a
complete and wonderful gift for me as her mama and I shall not forget it easily.
It was worth every slice of sunshine we sacrificed (although would have been
nice to have both!!!) I am not sure where this unexpected show of affection and
love came from this week from Beauty-(nor am I yet convinced it will stick
around)-but it feels wonderful for the moment. I feel like a part of myself is
back home. Where it needs to be.
I love how bonded Hubby is too to all our kids friends-it
is something in our marriage we are so proud of the way that we are bonded
(both) to the people our kid’s chose to love. It is an important part of who we
are. Our kids friends know that are kids are “package deals” . If you know
them..you know and are close to us.
We love you Vanilla Beans and had such a lovely week.
Hopefully we can keep up this tradition each summer as with two older boys gone
are the days of more than one family week of vacation anyways. Tonight we bring
Vanilla Bean 2 home and pick up both of our boys for the end of the vacation
for the weekend. Then Chase’s girlfriend come up Saturday night and Sunday and
we head home late Sunday night. Back to the real world which awaits us.
In the meantime we are left with the gift of the friendship
that the Vanilla Beans share. A friendship that will always keep me in awe and
wonder and so honoured to watch bloom.
True Love:)
