I have a best friend, Maria. And my life would not be the same without her.

So here are some of the reasons why she’s my best friend:

1. When we were in college, she’d go down to our sorority’s kitchen and make me pancakes in the middle of the night if I asked her to. Which was pretty often.

2. Even though I only visit a couple of times a year, her spare bedroom is known as “G’s room”. I get reports like “Do you know what the dog did in your room today?” “Or guess who ate a whole bag of chips in your bed today?”

3. I can be my authentic self, warts and all. I can confide my deepest fears… “Do you think I’m a sociopath?” was a recent one. (Her answer was no, even though I was intrigued by the idea.)

4. Every year, we do the same things: go to the beach, go camping, have Christmas together. We never make excuses.  As we approach the holidays, everyone starts lobbying for their favorite food to be made. She actually makes every family member’s favorite cookie. Mine are those pecan butter balls. And it doesn’t matter to her that I am the only one who likes them. Even though she gets mad when I don’t take them all with me when I leave.

5. I know her. She’s afraid of loud noises, so no regular balloons around her…ever. She hates liars and people who are takers.  She loves color.  She can’t find shoes that fit her easily. She’s sentimental and can’t get rid of anything including this hideous platter I painted.  Right now, she’s overrun with cukes, and is trying to find room in her fridge for pickle space.

If you have a best friend, it’s more precious than anything else you own. You can’t buy a best friend. So do whatever it takes to keep it alive and flourishing. It will give you more comfort than anything else in the world.