A Half Pint of Cheetos

There is someone that I have not written much about yet,that is perhaps one of the most important people I met as a teen. We did not spend too much time together, but we always had a special bond, a kind of understanding that we would always be there for each other, a mutual respect and love that has carried us through to the present. Even today I don't see her much more than every other month or so, but I still consider her my best friend, and I am comforted to know she is out there.

Charissa and I met at a dance, not at 404, but at Scooters, another teen dance in Burlington. I can still remember her coming up and introducing herself, she had noticed we had some friends in common and wanted to get to know the girls I was hanging around with. There was some confusion over our names, they sound so alike, and we laughed over that. I was sitting on the floor when she came up to us, and when I stood up we almost died laughing. Charissa is only 4'11", I am a hair over 6'. We were a typical Mutt and Jeff.

I don't know what it was that drew me to Charissa. She is a year and a half younger than me. She wasn't even out of elementary school when we met. We hardly seemed to have much in common at all. But we clicked. I loved talking to her, you could say anything and it would not shock her. She never judged you, took you as you were, and could keep a secret. She was open, and honest, and incredibly funny. She had this almost childlike quality about her, but she was far from innocent.

I think that is what I liked the most about Charissa. She had some hard knocks in life, but she never complained. When she told you about her past, it was very matter-of-fact, never oh-woes-me. She took things that happened to her, and learned from them. She still could laugh at life, enjoy things and look forward to her future.

Everyone that knows Charissa knows her one fault. She is always running late. I think she tries to do too much, and often finds herself running out of time. She'll say she is going to drop by, and she never shows. She'll ask you to come by and pick her up to go somewhere, but you never get out of her house. But you get used to it. You learn not to expect her to show, and you are pleasantly surprised if she does. And you know, if it is really important, she will be there, and on time.

I had chosen Charissa to be my birthing coach when my oldest son was born. She made it to our pre-natal classes, on time. She was there when I wanted her to go to a doctors appointment with me, and when I called her at 5:00 in the morning the day I went into labour, I hardly had time to put on my shoes and she was at my doorstep.

When I got married, Charissa was my Matron of Honour. She organized my shower, she decorated my cake, and was there every time I called her to help out on things. She helped me to decorate the reception hall, and was there bright and early the morning of the wedding to calm my nerves and help me get ready.

The day my youngest son was born Charissa was at another wedding, almost an hour away. Although this time I had my husband there, she insisted she was going to be in the delivery room, and she left that wedding in the middle of the reception so she could be by my side, holding my hand just like she had been 8 years before.

This spring I will have been friends with Charissa for 20 years. She is loved by my whole family, my kids, my husband, even my parents. I am truly blessed to have her in my life.