It Takes a Long Time to Grow an Old Friend

I come from a small town, although that statement is slightly misleading. Actually, New Milford is the largest town in Connecticut, according to land area (check out our Wikipedia entry here). Still, it's the kind of small town where everyone is somehow connected, and if I don't know someone than he/she definitely knows my mother.

Confession time: I'm one of those freaks who loved high school. Yes, I had my awkward phases (okay, so maybe I never grew out of my awkward phases), but I had friends I'd known since I was about five. I was involved in every aspect of New Milford High School I could get my hands on, and loved every minute of my extracurriculars.

My friends from home are a pretty spectacular group. I love getting together with them and hearing about the fabulous things they're doing with their lives, and I have complete faith that they will all be extraordinarily successful in whatever they choose to do.

I started hosting a post-Thanksgiving brunch a few years ago, and it's become a sort of tradition. My lovely girls are understandably busy, so not everyone could make it, but I'm always so happy to see the ones who can.

On Saturday, my friends and I pigged out on lots of yummy baked goods, and caught up on our lives. We talked about our families, our classes, our plans for the future and our crazy college stories.

All of my friends are amazing, but there's something special and different about hometown friends. The girls who I played soccer with and competed with on the swim team were the girls who helped me through calculus (I know - what could I have been thinking?). The ones who I passed notes with in middle school are the ones who still keep in touch with funny and touching text messages.

So in a crazy season, filled with holiday preparations and final projects and exams, I'm grateful for my small hometown and the friends in my life that have been constants through all the ups and downs.

How did you end your Thanksgiving weekend? Do you have any traditions with old friends that your holiday wouldn't be the same without?