Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time there were two little girls named Sarah and Meg.

They met when they were about five years old, and instantly became best friends.

Meg lived around the corner from Sarah,

and they played at one another's houses all the time.

They had very active imaginations and could make believe they were almost anything in the world, including Victoria (the cat, not the queen) and rolls of toilet paper.

There were many sleep-overs, and Meg ALWAYS spent the night at Sarah's house because Sarah would never spend the night away from home,

even though Meg's house was just around the corner.

Perhaps she was afraid of dragons.

Perhaps there was just no place like home to her at the time.

The little girls were inseparable.

But, when the girls were only ten years old,

Meg's dad told her the family had to move to Geneva...

SWITZERLAND!

These girls, who were best friends, were very very sad.

How could they possibly live so far away from one another?

Many many tears were shed,

including lots from the mother of Sarah

who thought of Meg as one of her own.

This mother was very tolerant. Actually, she liked to be silly too.

What was the mother dressed as? I have no idea!

This was 1990 ~ much too long ago to remember.

Alas, Meg shouted for all the world to hear ~

DON'T WORRY!

WE WILL STAY FRIENDS FOR EVER AND EVER!

Meg stayed far, far away in Switzerland, coming back to the states for occasional visits, until it was time to go to college. Each time she came home, the little girls, who were getting bigger and bigger all the time, met one another and simply picked up where they left off.

Because that's just what friends can do.

Sarah finally decided she could spend the night away from home

and attended college in Wisconsin.

Meg decided to come back and go to school in Iowa.

After college, Meg moved to Chicago

and Sarah, who was no longer afraid of dragons at all,

continued to live in Milwaukee.

And still the girls stayed in touch.

Because that's just what friends can do.

Meg tried to donate blood last May for Erin's Memorial Drive,

but was turned away due to possible exposure to Mad Cow Disease

during her years in Europe.

She commented at the end of the post, and signed

Love, Meg - your permanent house guest for much of my childhood!

Her intentions and this comment made Sarah's mother very happy.

On Saturday, a beautiful and very grown up Meg

put on a gorgeous white dress

and met a handsome prince in a black tuxedo

who waited for her at the altar of a church in Chicago.

And who had to walk down the aisle first

and make sure this was an appropriate prince?

Why, her best friend Sarah, of course!

Now, the mother of Sarah, who still thinks of Meg as one of her own,

was so happy to attend this wonderful occasion.

She wept many tears

because Meg looked so beautiful

because Meg found her perfect prince

and because she was so filled with joy that these once-little girls

who parted ways at such a tender age

are still best friends now that they are 28 years old, and not so little!

Throughout the evening, the mother watched from afar,

soaking in the magic of this special friendship

that the miles never EVER snatched away.

There were not only tears shed, but oh so much laughter

and good food and lots of wine

and of course, there was DANCING!

And this is certainly not The End, but merely the beginning of the next chapter in the story of the lives of Meg and Sarah, who are still best friends.

And the happy mother of Sarah is watching ~ giving thanks.