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97 Comments

  1. Danielle
    September 18, 2012 @ 6:40 pm

    Dang… I wish I had done something like this with my best friend! What a gift!! Thank you for sharing a snippet of such a special time. Do you guys get to live near each other now?

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      September 19, 2012 @ 8:25 am

      No… she’s back in New Hampshire, I’m back outside of Philadelphia. We rarely see each other. Our friendship has been long distance for so long, it seems normal to never see her.

      Two of my neighbors are best friends. The one bought the house next to her friend as soon as it went for sale… I cannot even imagine the luxury!

      Reply

      • Danielle
        September 20, 2012 @ 2:16 pm

        My bestie lives 1200+ miles away, so I totally get what a luxury it would be to have her next door. I saw her last summer, while our husbands were hiking and we just sat and talked for three days straight… like literally non-stop. Having someone like that, near or far, is a precious gift!

        Reply

        • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
          September 20, 2012 @ 3:34 pm

          Exactly… I see the neighbor women walking into town together with their yoga mats… I’m just like, that must be awesome.

          Reply

  2. patinaandcompany
    September 19, 2012 @ 4:09 pm

    What a beautiful post. Memories of course (about keeping friendships alive before technology!), but also this is the stage of life my daughter is at, trying everything, crazy with her friends and far away from home. Such a laugh when you describe how you were the only two girls without pierced ears, t.v., etc.–Oh, how I relate to the gist of that. Sniff. Tear. Thanks for that momentary return to 21

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      September 20, 2012 @ 3:29 pm

      Digging back into the photos made me so nostalgic!! Plus, kind of jarring… you think everyone still looks exactly the same, until you spend a few hours saying: oh my gosh look HOW YOUNG WE WERE! To me now, we look like little kids driving across the country!

      Reply

      • patinaandcompany
        September 20, 2012 @ 3:45 pm

        How true that is about how little you notice changes in people until you look at the old pictures! Then it’s a bit scary. I saw a school friend (admittedly I’d had a few sips beforehand) a couple of years ago that I hadn’t seen in many years, and when she walked in–I stared at her dumbly for I don’t know how long until she actually had to blurt out that it was she! The worst part was, we were expecting her.

        Reply

        • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
          September 21, 2012 @ 7:16 am

          Lol… so true. The next time someone tells me—you look exactly the same, I’m going to say, thanks, but no. Here, let me show you a photo.

          Reply

  3. Andrea Kelly
    September 19, 2012 @ 6:13 pm

    What a wonderful tribute, and a friendship to treasure forever. Sounds like it was an absolute blast!!

    Reply

  4. The Smile Scavenger
    September 20, 2012 @ 8:52 pm

    I *might* have to steal that shower curtain idea! This is one of the best tribute pieces I’ve read. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful friendship! I’ve got to go call some old friends now. 🙂

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      September 22, 2012 @ 8:51 am

      Steal away. May I recommend you make a decoder key? Even though you *think* you’ll never forget what xyz means… you will.

      Reply

      • The Smile Scavenger
        September 23, 2012 @ 11:13 am

        Thanks for the recommendation! Will make sure to do that too! 🙂

        Reply

  5. Linn @ The Home Project
    September 25, 2012 @ 11:39 pm

    I loved this post! What an amazing trip. It seems like you guys had the time of your life. All the perfect ingredients her: youth, adventure, excitement, talking through the night etc… What a lovely friendship and how generous of you to share it!

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      September 26, 2012 @ 9:00 am

      I love how people related to this post. I love how it reminded them of some similar time in their own life…

      I’d had some thoughts that it was such a departure from house-stuff that maybe people would only be politely interested…I’m so happy that wasn’t the case!! Now, if anything I feel like the rest of my posts are boring in comparison!!

      Reply

  6. marcys
    October 2, 2012 @ 1:23 pm

    What a wonderful story! I have had a best friend for 50 years, and although the past ten have been problematic, I remember us back then, and can relate to your friendship, especially the talking, talking, talking. I’m glad you appreciate it as you do, because there is nothing like it, and you may never experience it again. Best to both of you! Also you are both just adorable!

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      October 3, 2012 @ 8:32 am

      For me and Lara now, we’ve gotten in the habit of treating our friendship as more-or-less self-sustaining… which means it doesn’t get any kind of priority anymore. I hadn’t even realized how much it had changed until I began writing this post. And it made me made me sad, and nostalgic, and so thankful we spent that time together, when we had it…

      Reply

  7. The Owner
    October 2, 2012 @ 3:37 pm

    I read this when you first posted it. Reminds me very much of my friend – it sounds as though your friendship is very similar to mine. When I turned around to my friend and said that I wouldn’t go to his birthday party in Spain because the cost was equivalent to a sash-window he did mind. Although not as long (or with photos) I gave a brief summary in my blog – but the key thing I got was support.

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      October 3, 2012 @ 8:35 am

      You’re a better house-renovator than I am!! I have a hard time prioritizing functional windows, baths, garage doors…over whatever budget-breaking fun is calling my name. Although it’s not usually a trip to Spain, it’s usually an unwieldy, antique garden urn or something…

      Reply

  8. Meghan
    October 5, 2012 @ 2:23 pm

    This is absolutely so sweet! Love the collection of photos and OMG that shower curtain. Awesomeness.

    Reply

  9. Lara Laveda Croft
    October 25, 2012 @ 12:18 pm

    This is such a beautiful and eloquent walk down memory lane! You captured both our unique humor and the universal nature of friendship. Even though I’m hard-pressed not to scoff at other comments (though they’re lovely) that they can’t possibly relate to just how cool we are, that they can only aspire. Which I’m sure they can also relate to! 🙂 Everyone thinks their best friend is the coolest best friend ever. I’m just the only one that’s right. Love you.

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      October 29, 2012 @ 10:55 am

      I just spent ten minutes trying to find the source for the quote about how people who like their own writing are idiots… or something to that extent.

      But? I just reread this, AND I STILL LOVE IT.

      There was so much I ended up cutting out. Like the disgusting orange soy cheese. And the road not taken. And approaching the throne with confidence. And that Renaissance-themed restaurant in Dallas. And the time we went to Target in a hurricane. And the wall of conquest.

      It made me miss Texas, and you, and that younger version of myself *so* much. Love you!!!

      Reply

  10. Jimaie
    November 21, 2012 @ 6:00 pm

    This made me smile so big and just plain warmed my heart! Makes me want to give my own best friend a big huge hug <3 There's just nothing like a best friend is there?? 🙂 Such a fantastic post!

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      November 22, 2012 @ 7:24 am

      *Smile.* Thank you so much… you’re right there is nothing like a best friend. And it’s a good day to remember to be thankful for all the people we love!

      Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply

  11. Deb
    March 13, 2013 @ 11:47 pm

    Loved this blog about your girlfriend and the move to Texas! Growing up with 4 sisters I loved very much, I could really relate to the laughter. Life doesn’t get much better than this. Love the shower curtain too.

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      March 14, 2013 @ 11:12 am

      I WISH I had four sisters. As much as I love my brothers… I always wanted a sister. Lara does feel like one, but without an official family tie, we’re not “required” to see each other…

      If she was my real sister I’d see her at least at holidays and summer vacation. But we live so far away, it’s easy to let an unbelievable amount of time go by.

      Reply

  12. Kelley
    June 25, 2013 @ 11:42 am

    I just found your blog and of course clicked this post because I live in Texas. Imagine my surprise when you said that you ended up in Ft. Worth. I grew up in Ft. Worth but moved to Arlington when I was 18. I was also 22 in the fall of 1999 (but I was married and had a baby in November that year). I wonder how you got to Ft. Worth, why you decided to stop there, where you lived (not address – but like what section of the city), how long you stayed, why you left, how you got back to PA? I’m full of questions!

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      June 28, 2013 @ 11:28 am

      We lived in an apartment, sort of near the mall? I’m foggy now on the intersections, but near Hulen? We were close to the mall. The apartments were called Hulen Gardens…

      I’m going to do a follow up on this for Lara’s birthday this year… Ft. Worth was truly random. We just drove until we found a place we liked. I do get that it’s sort of odd. But it suited us. And, also the place didn’t really matter, if you know what I mean.

      Reply

  13. BulaBelle
    June 27, 2013 @ 2:16 pm

    You truly have a gift and inbetween craigslist shopping should be writing a book. Loved this story, what a sweet sweet tribute!

    Reply

  14. LaurieC
    June 28, 2013 @ 2:48 am

    Your post has this 61 year old lady in tears… for things missed out on in her life. And yet, also joy, to know that there are people one can be friends with who are not all about ‘taking’ from someone. The last sentence is what really hit me… “being with someone who really wants to be with you”… I never really had that… not even during a 30 year marriage that ended in divorce 6 years ago. I’ve often wondered what it would be like, to be able to talk, and talk, and talk… and have someone who wanted to listen. And to be able to laugh extravagantly and freely at anything and everything. To be that happy. I so very much enjoyed the story of that time in your life. I enjoyed learning that those kind of relationships really can exist between people. Thank you so much for sharing it. It blessed my inner child immensely. Hugs to you.

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      June 28, 2013 @ 11:33 am

      I just told Lara to come read your comment, it was so moving. Thank you for sharing… I know that painful times can be very dark, and I HOPE that right around the corner is some thing bright and wonderful!! (And maybe shaped like a kingdom)
      xo, Victoria

      Reply

    • Lara Croft
      June 28, 2013 @ 11:36 am

      LaurieC it’s never too late–I know that V and I are blessed but I think there’s someone out there for you to laugh and talk with. Thank you for reading about us and for commenting, and I hope this is a sign of a turning point for you, before finding a beautiful connection of your own.

      Reply

  15. Christina @ The Murrayed Life
    June 28, 2013 @ 7:45 pm

    I don’t know if there has ever been a more loving tribute to a friend. You transported me back to that age and time and my own trip to Texas (Austin… where I still am 5 years later!) even though it was a whole different kind of trek. But the excitement and the open road and the feeling that the world is your oyster? Amazing. And then I moved in with my now husband as roommates, and we had those same fantastic laughing and talking experiences before we realized that it could be more. What fantastic times. Thanks for taking me back. 🙂

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      June 29, 2013 @ 1:01 pm

      Magic… right? I’d give anything to recapture it.
      Loved your story. Must be something special about TX.
      xo Victoria

      Reply

  16. Mitch Warren
    June 30, 2013 @ 9:30 am

    Great to see this…. I know Lara from our local library (Newmarket, NH)- a lovely person!

    Reply

  17. Leah
    July 3, 2013 @ 1:36 am

    I’ve never lived on my own (I’ve lived alone with my son but that doesn’t really count does it?) I’ve never lived with my BFF so I can only close my eyes and picture us in your pictures. A few weeks ago she moved and left me in California and fled to Alabama. I miss her. I loved your tribute to Lara. I also love your blog. I shared it on Facebook with Jackie and she said the 3 of us would totally be BBF’s.

    Reply

  18. Rosemary
    July 8, 2013 @ 7:03 am

    I absolutely LOVED this blog! It made me laugh, smile, tear-up and cherish my best friend even more! Thank you! Can’t wait to read all your posts. Wonderful!!!

    Reply

  19. SSdGJ
    July 10, 2013 @ 10:51 am

    you and your friend are so lucky to have this ‘friendship’

    Reply

  20. jody
    July 10, 2013 @ 1:00 pm

    What a darling sweet post! you brought real tears to my eyes, not only laughing at your laughter together but the special friendship communion you had and still have…so so dear..xo jody

    Reply

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