Haylee and Courtney

I've been thinking a lot about childhood lately, and since my childhood is not really just my childhood, but my best friend Haylee's as well, I've been thinking a lot about her, too.

See, I grew up with a best friend who happens to still be my best friend. I suppose we've remained friends for so long simply because it was meant to be. I mean, when I was little, I saw signs everywhere that proved to me that Haylee and I were meant to be together forever. Romantic, right? But really, these are just a few of the things I saw as clear signs, telling me loud and clear that we were not ever to be separate, and I listened and obeyed, because there was nothing better than playing with Helly.

1. The temperature on the faucet read H and C, standing for Haylee and Courtney. Obviously.
2. The sugar called C & H was most definitely a clear indication of our togetherness. Firstly because it was our initials and secondly because it was sugar and we both had major sweet tooths.
3. She was a brunette and I was blonde. Barbie's best friends always seemed to be her opposite and so it was with Haylee and I. She was tall, I was short. She was thin, I was squatty. She was quiet, I was loud. See? It all fits! Opposites attract!
4. We loved all the same things. We loved exploring in the orchard behind her house, we both loved sleepovers (although she couldn't stay awake at night and I couldn't wake up in the morning; it made for some interesting sleeping patterns), we both loved sports, and we both loved to swim. Although, Haylee was a far better swimmer. She could hold her breath longer and she could open her eyes under water. I was always very much impressed by that.
5. Being girls, one would expect us to go through that phase where we want different friends or something. Not us. Senora Revuelta once told us in 4th grade that we wouldn't always be friends. She said that things would change in junior high and we would probably hate each other. Well, she couldn't have been more wrong. We stayed best friends and even added another best friend to the mix, little Annie. But since Annie missed out on putting lunchmeat on dead rabbit brains in attempts to keep whoever was ripping them apart from continuing to rip them apart, I can't quite consider her a childhood friend. She is more a 10 and older best friend, missing out on things like forts in stranger's garages, picking at the brick wall in front of Betsy's house, and watching uncomfortably as Haylee's older brother Jesse pulled her hair and made her cry.
6. We both loved getting scared. We would always try to scare ourselves, and we would introduce the game with, "Let's scare ourselves!" Clever, right? We loved it. Except once when we her uncle played a prank on us and really did scare us. We were screaming on the couch, with Haylee using some freakish strength she had kept hidden from me, and using me as a human shield. I don't know how she did it, me being the obvious bruiser and all, but she held me like a rag doll right in front of her, covering her body completely with mine. My struggle became less out of fear and more out of frustration. Nevertheless, she held me easily until we learned of Uncle Ray's prank. She eventually released me and we laughed until we cried, about how she was willing to sacrifice me in the name of her safety. We still laugh about it.
7. Haylee is the best running partner I could ever ask for. We had a perfect system, I would start us and she would finish us. I was the pacer and she was the pusher. It really couldn't have worked better, and I blame my love handles on her not living in San Diego. But really, I think finding the perfect workout partner is so symbolic. Haylee and I were a perfect team, so different in so many ways but enough alike to really forge a lasting relationship. I miss running stadiums with her and running through her neighborhood, being so absolutely comfortable, we could talk if we chose, or just wheeze along. We've talked about doing a marathon together, but could I really train without her? I think she would have to spend 6 months out here, training with me, in order for it to really work.

I honestly had one of the best childhoods one can have, and I know it has a lot with having Haylee around. I've always been so grateful for her, and always admired her happy-go-lucky personality. I miss sleeping on the tramp with her and I miss getting ready in her bathroom so we could go paintballing with boys half our height. But what I really miss, is calling her up on the phone and saying, "Haylee June Cuthbert? This is Courtney Ann Asay. Can you play?" She always could.