For Rachel

After reading your beautiful, beautiful post (and crying) (a lot), I realized I couldn't fit everything I need to say onto just a page of your yearbook either. I've made a lot of new friends this past year, but I think you will probably the one that lasts the longest. You understand me at such a deep level--I haven't been able to relate to somebody else this way in a very long time.

I remember meeting you when we were learning the Titanic audition dance. I was having some major issues, but you helped me feel better about that. It's not even expressible how much Titanic bound us all together, but I felt especially close to you. You read my palm, I gave you massages. You shared your character's tragic story with me. We cried together.

And that was even before we truly began to know each other. It seemed like I was dreaming--we have a ridiculous amount in common, and I could barely believe it. I still find it hard to believe. It's also weird to think that I'm older--I don't feel it at all (probably because it's only six months.) and sometimes you act much more mature than I am. I love how we can talk about anything--but we can sit in companionable silence as well. I love discussing literature with you. I love what we have in common, but I also love our differences.

I love the music we make together. Even our voices want to be friends! Our harmonies are so much fun, and I love how easy it is to sing with you. I hope we make a whole lot more this summer before I leave (I've had a lot of ideas for covers :D and we can start writing songs too). We can sit around in random places and just strum our guitars and sing random songs. Even Veggietales. Oh, and we need to go planking.

A lot of my yearbook writings are talking about past memories. But I'd rather look forward to new memories we're going to create. Remember how we're going to go to Africa and do service and go to China and teach English? Our friendship has so much more potential than I think either of us realize.

Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for accepting me for who I am and yet helping to be a better person at the same time. You are a unique and exceptional friend. You are truly the only exception--I haven't been able to open up to someone else like this in years. Thank you for making my last musical so memorable and so fantastic. Thank you for helping me put certain things into words. Thank you for sharing yourself with me.

Remember though, we'll meet tomorrow. No matter how far away we are, I'll always be your friend. I thank God that he's sent such a wonderful person to make my life so much sweeter.

I want to try to give you advice, but I don't know what to tell you--you're a lot wiser than I am. Here's one thing, though--be involved. Don't limit yourself to what you already know you love--try new things and meet new people, because relationships are what matter in life. Besides that, just keep up the good work. Don't lose sight of your goals or who you've decided to be.

I love you so very much, so we should hang out... right now.

Soul Sister out!

<3/Miranda