Vaca day 4- a blast from my past

My vaca is quickly winding to an end. And of course, I am sad. 'Cuz I gotta go back to work. And be subjected to abuse. But for now, I am still free.

Today's agenda was hangin' with a chick I haven't seen in ages. And by ages I mean 13 years. We reconnected on Facebook (God bless the internet...)

This girl used to be my best friend back in the day. And she is mostly the reason I am the way I am today. Yes - one person is responsible for me & my attitude & my not takin' crap off anyone. (Well-that & I do have some of my dad's personality...)

I'm on the left, she's sitting in the middle. Please note the awesome clothes, big hair & even bigger glasses!

Okay-so here's the dish. I met Nikkole when I was like 11 or 12. Her dad was "auditioning" to be the preacher at our church. And since my mom was on the welcome committee-we had their family over for lunch. We hit it off immediately. And since I was so shy & backward - I was lovin' having a new friend.

So after a few weeks, her dad was hired as the preacher & they moved here. And I kid you not - I sat on the front porch watching them move their stuff in. Never made a move, never went over to say hello. I was WAY too shy for that. Plus I just KNEW she wouldn't remember me. She walked down to the house to get the key from my mom. I sat there quietly (duh), and she said, "Hi Jaime!". Ahhhhhh- I heard Angels singing! She remembered me. O happy day...

So here's where it gets interesting. I was shy & backward. Nikkole was outgoing. Obviously not a good combo. Everyone loved Nikkole & I just sat there very quietly trying to blend into the background. So lets just say there was a little bit of "being the last kid picked at recess for dodgeball" going on. There was another girl that lived in town with us & we were all friends. Wellllll, on several occasions, I would be "left out" of play dates & such. And I would be heartbroken. But I was too shy to say anything. So I suffered in silence - alone....

But wait - don't cry for me Argentina... -this is the part where the underdog pulls herself up by her boot straps & makes lemonade outta lemons. After a few years - Nikkole moved away. And one day, I decided, "as God as my witness, I would never be taken advantage of again."

And voila! I've morphed into the creature I've become today. And even though for a lot of years I resented her - I now thank her because if she hadn't done the things she did - I would still be that quiet little girl who got slapped in the face & just stood there & let it happen time & time again. Can ya'll imagine a world like that?! I shudder at the thought...

And ya know how you regret things you did when you were young? Well, she knows the way she did me was wrong. And she even apologized for it. And I like that. That takes guts. And all is forgiven on my part.

So we had a great day shopping & catching up. We even went to see the movie "The Blind Side" (which is excellent!). So here we are today. Same gorgeous faces, just less big hair & less big ole glasses!