I'm going to try not to cry

One of my closest friends is moving more than 600 miles away this week. I'm having my goodbye lunch with her today. I can't begin to tell you how sad I am. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for the opportunities she's going to have, but I'm incredibly sad. We've been through a lot together during the last several years. We've been through bad dates, bad relationships, losing jobs, getting new jobs, moving away and moving back. We've gone through different dress sizes, different hair styles, even different hair colors.

Yesterday she told me how she didn't cry once during her last day of work. She wanted to share because she knew I'd be proud of her. But I'm not sure I can do the same at lunch. I know we'll still be good friends, that won't change. But it's hard to imagine my life without her living nearby. The last time she moved away, heck the last time I moved away, I think we both knew in our hearts we'd move back to the Tampa area. This time, I'm afraid, she's leaving for good. And I don't know what to say. I know, I'm rarely speechless.

During the past few months I've been encouraging her to make the best career and lifestyle choices for herself, never once thinking about what I'd be losing. Then I've spent the past few weeks in denial. Today is the reality. She really has been there for me more times than I can count. She's always refreshingly positive and makes me see the silver lining without making it so cliche or pukey sounding. When I lost my job in March she never said anything as trite as everything happens for a reason. Instead we ate ice cream and started brainstorming what my next opportunity would be.

I have so many great things to say about her, but know I'm not doing her justice in my sad, sleep-deprived state. Hopefully I'll have something more poignant to say when we go to her all-time favorite Tampa restaurant for lunch. I have so many memories of our times together and honestly have a hard time remembering life before I met her. She's one of those friends who will literally drop everything she's doing if you need help. She's the one on the sidelines saying "you can do it" when you just want to quit. There aren't enough words to express how lucky I've been to have her in my life. So for now, I'll just tell you how fabulous she and I'll miss her.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude