Best Friends

While I was writing my first post about the conversation that led to the name Why rinse chicken?, I started thinking about the term "best friend." Most people I know seem to have one. Others may not have one at all or may even have a few.

There are 3 people in my life I have used the term "best friend" for: my sister, my husband and (for lack of any other term) my best friend (she's a blogger too, so from now on I'll refer to her with her blogging name, little miss spy). I love these 3 people more than I could ever describe in words. I would do anything for them and I cannot imagine my life without any one of them. But if you think about the term "best friend," the word "best" suggests there is only one and that one is better than the rest.

My little sister's determination and heart are a constant inspiration to me and the bond between sisters is like nothing else. However, the fact remains that she is my sister. Nothing will ever change the fact that we share a bloodline, a history, a childhood. We are forever connected.

My husband is my high school sweetheart, my strength and my true love (I'm pretty corny and sentimental so get used to it!) I often refer to him as my best friend, but he is my husband. We made a legal commitment to each other, as well as a commitment in front of God and all our family and friends. As I often tell him, he's "stuck with me!"

Little miss spy is different. We have no common bloodline or a piece of paper legally binding us. We have known each other since 6th grade. I don't know what it is about her, but she just gets me. We can see each other everyday or go 6 months without seeing each other and it is always the same. I can trust her not to patronize me and always tell me the truth. Her youthful attitude always makes me smile. Really, I could go on forever about her, she holds a very special place in my heart and I think I would be a very different person without her in my life.

I think we all need a friend like little miss spy. I know I do anyway! Does that mean I don't consider my sister and husband my "best friends" also? No, not at all. I would be a very different person without them in my life as well. But I think it's a really great feeling to have someone like little miss spy who will always listen and always be there and there is nothing "making" them. She is a great balance for me and an inspiration in my life. When my thinking or reactions become very one-sided, she knows just how to put things into perspective without preaching. I truly hope I am as good a friend to her as she has been and is to me.

I think "best friend" is more of a term than 2 words that should be taken literally. What do you think? Do you have a best friend like little miss spy? If so, do you think they're as important as I think she is in my life? If not, tell me why you don't need or want that in your life. Or would you like like it if you could find someone you related to like we do?