I was sitting with one of my best friends yesterday having tacos when she got a text telling her that her house had just sold. I mean, it wasn’t even supposed to be on the market until today! I knew she was putting it up for sale, but I thought we might have at least a couple more months. But no, a young family saw it and loved it. I don’t blame them because that house has all the warm Kristin Billerbeck touches that make it feel like a home.

This family needed the house to close quickly, so it was a done deal. I’m so happy for Kristin, but selfishly, not so happy for me. She needs to move back home to her family. They need her, and this was a blessing. So why am I sad? We’ve been friends for 25 years. Kristin is a giving, strong, kind person who has been here for Mel and me since before we made the move from Wyoming to Phoenix over two years ago. She met us here when we were looking for a place to live, and she drove us all over town to find something.
She is a very strong person who fixes things in her house by looking it up on You Tube. I have always admired her resilience. She is generous to a fault. We fight a lot when we eat out because she tries to pay too often. She tips generously and is kind to the servers–doesn’t that tell you a lot about her?
After Mel and I arrived here in Phoenix and settled in, he and I spent a lot of time with Kristin, going to rodeos, parades…and did I mention eating? She and I met often at coffee shops to write. Unfortunately, neither of us is a disciplinarian, so we had more fun than we should have, and sometimes didn’t get any writing done. But we continued to have fun, explore the city, play, eat out, play some more, shop, get our nails done. Girl stuff.
We plan to play a little more before she moves back to California, but I dread the time when she has to leave for good. I’m going to miss her like crazy. Long-time friends are so precious. You learn you can depend on each other and you become more like family than just friends. I’m not so good about making friends these days, and there’s going to be a huge hole in my life very soon. Still, I remind myself that Kristin and I kept in touch before we moved here, so we still have that. It’s just not enough.
If you have old friends you know you can depend on, cherish them. Spend time with them. Let them know what they mean to you. You might not always have them in your life. True friends are a special gift from God. Enjoy those gifts.
Now…there’s a restaurant Kristin has discovered in Scottsdale. I think it’s time for another trip into the city.