Friends

Have you ever had any of those friends that you don't really talk to all that much and you can go like a couple months or even more without saying anything and then when you do finally talk to them it's like you have never stopped talking to them in the first place. I feel pretty lucky because I have a lot of people like that in my life. And in the past week I've gotten in contact with two of these people and they're pretty important people to me.

The first was a best friend of mine I've known since the fourth grade. And the other is someone I've probably known since I was in preschool. And I have to admit, that I am the type of person who doesn't do well with keeping in contact with people. But I do love my friends and when I do talk to them and get to see them I am extremely happy.

I've come to realize that most of my friendships are like this. And it's probably because I don't have something that keeps us together like school or anything like that. Having friends when you're young is easy. You have to talk to these people and hang out with these people for your formative years. You're kind of stuck with them for a while. But when you don't have that thing to keep you in contact and you don't put forth effort then you're not going to have friends. And that's a terrifying thought.

Spending this time talking and catching with these two people recently has made me realize that friends are really precious and if you don't work at your friendship then it's going to crumble. Friends are special people and it's really weird to think that there are these people in the world that care about how your day was or someone who is willing to just sit in silence and enjoy your company. It's a weird thought, but it's also really comforting.

Love,
Natalie

Summer of Firsts

I've been thinking about this summer since it's almost over. And I've realized that it's been a summer of new experiences.

I had my first experience of helping with Relay for Life which was absolutely amazing. I've never felt so much hope and love in one place. It was great to see some friends I hadn't seen in a while and to spend time with some others who I hadn't really gotten to know until then.

I have worked for the first time all summer. Doing things that I'll probably never do again in my life like working in a butterfly habitat and getting to build and play all day and get paid for it. It was exhausting, but I wouldn't want to have done anything else.

My family and I visited Charleston for the first time ever and I absolutely loved it. It was one of the first times I ever imagined myself living somewhere that wasn't where I currently reside. And even though it rained every day that we were there that didn't stop us from exploring the gorgeous city known a Charleston. It really is something you have to experience at least once in your life because it's like going back in time.

I went white water rafting for the first time as well and that was probably another highlight of my summer. It was always something that I wanted to do but never imagined that I would get to, so when I did the experience was just amazing. It's definitely something I have checked off the bucket list and am looking forward to doing again as soon as possible.

This has been a really crazy summer and it has gone by way too fast. Which is what I always thought old people said, so I guess that makes me old now. But it really has. And yet I wouldn't change it for anything because it was absolutely amazing. Especially compared to last summer.

I'm still waiting on a couple of big firsts. But I guess they'll happen at the right time. And I just need to be patient which really sucks because I'm not good at being patient. But I'm thankful for the firsts I have had and am highly anticipating the ones to come.

Love,
Natalie

The Train Station

He was here everyday at the same time. Just waiting. No one knew what for, but there he sat for an hour everyday anticipating something that never came. Day after day, for years. And still nothing ever came. But he kept coming and sitting and waiting. Then one day there was someone else waiting there too. Seemingly not for the same thing, but just waiting for something. And that person asked the question everyone else always wondered.

"What are you waiting for?" That was the question, something to make conversation while they both sat and waited. He turned toward her and she noticed the sad smile on his face before he said, "I'm not sure, but I'm going to be here when it happens." Then he turned back around and said nothing else. The girl's friend arrived and she left, but only after saying goodbye to the man.

And he continued to wait. He became a staple at the station. Everyone who worked there knew who he was. He was the man who was waiting... for something. But no one knew what that something was except for him. But he was sat there every day on the same bench all day. Just waiting.

No one at the station knew what to do about him. He never bothered anyone, so they decided to just let him sit and wait. He would talk to them when business was slow at the station and tell them all about when he was young and how the world had changed. And then one day he didn't show up. And he was missed. But the workers assumed it was a fluke, that he was sick and would be there the next day but when he wasn't there after a week they began to worry.

A few more weeks passed and there was still no sign of the man until one day when someone who looked familiar walked in and went up to the counter. He was the old man's son and he'd been sent to tell the workers that his father was in the hospital and wouldn't be able to come back to the station. But he would. He came every day, just like his father and then one day what he was waiting for came.

No one noticed at first. The small box that came on the mail train addressed to the man. But it was found and given to his son who left with it straight away.

The workers waited for him to return once again. And they waited and they waited. It was over a month before the man returned. He hadn't planned on ever coming back if he were honest. But his father had told him to. He wanted to make sure that his friends knew why he had been there in the first place. Even if they didn't understand.

A picture. That was what had come on the mail train. Of a couple. The man in uniform and the woman in a gorgeous dress. The way they looked at each other said it all. They were in love, happily in love. And it was all that he had left to remember her by. And some days he could remember every detail about her and then there were other days where he couldn't even remember her name, but he knew that she was the love of his life. He never forgot that.

That day the was the last day that they ever saw the man or his son ever again. And every time the mail truck came in they would think of the old man who would sit and wait for it every day and wonder about him. They never found out what happened to him, but they knew that wherever he was he was happy. Because he was finally with the woman he loved and he wouldn't forget anything about her ever again.

I Don't Know

I don't admit to knowing a lot of things. I don't know why people hurt each other, why we fall in love with strangers, or why life can be so hard. I don't know why I hate math or why the sky is blue.

But I do know that crying is okay. In fact it can be more than okay. It can be what fixes you. I know that knowing things and believing things are usually completely different. I know that chocolate and a movie can fix almost any heart break. I know I fall slightly in love with some strangers I pass on the street.

I don't know why bad things happen to good people or why some people end up alone. I don't know why having faith is so hard sometimes, but so easy at others. I don't know why you can feel alone in a room full of people.

I do know that being alone and being lonely aren't the same. I know that hearts are going to be broken, but the ripping just makes it grow back stronger. I know that people can surprise you, in good ways and in bad. But you have to give them a chance first.

I don't know if life really does get better.

But I know that I want to be here to test that theory. I know that there will be days that seem impossible to get over, but they'll be the ones I'm grateful for the most when the times come to look back. I know that life is an adventure. I know that living is for mistakes.

I may not know a lot, and I'm definitely still learning. But what I do know is that if you have love, hope, and faith anything is possible. No matter how cliche it may seem.

Love,
Natalie

P.S. I've really started to get back into writing recently, so I'm hoping to be posting a little more often than I have been.