Eleven Years of Love...and More to Come

Oh, Hannah Banana. I remember when I lived in Malaysia and I got an email from my friend Lexi that said:  "I can't wait for you to move back to Utah so you can meet my friend Hannah! She has red hair!".
How was I supposed to know that was you? That "Hannah with red hair" was going to be my best friend and change my life forever?

We met when we were nine. Both of us small, plump, obnoxious 4th graders, and far too creative for our own good. We promised to be best friends right then and there.

We came up with grand plans about our future together. "When we get to college, we can be roommates and do whatever we want! We can eat pancakes all day and watch TV!"

What a idea! Ha.

I remember that first April Fools together I tricked you into believing I was moving back to Malaysia and leaving you. Though I was being sneaky and mean, you're face fell and I could see the fear and saddness in your eyes. You said to me "Don't worry Shelby. We don't have to live in the same place to be best friends. I will email you."

Then, of course, I shot those sweet words down with the truthful reply: "You don't have email." Ha.

Well, when you found out it was all a joke we laughed and laughed together; but I've always remembered the love that shone through you for me when you thought I was going to leave you.

I remember we tested in the A.L.L. class just so you wouldn't have to move to Freedom Elementary School. So you could stay with me...

We lived through the awkward next couple of years trying to fit in and find ourselves. We relied on each other. We made music videos to Bohemian Rhapsody, dreamed of creating our own restaurant: The BB&D, held cooking classes, had dirt bomb wars, creeped to boys' houses in our class and dropped of secret notes and tumbleweeds.

Junior High was rough. Isn't it for everyone? But we stuck through it together. We even loved each when we only wore basketball shorts and sweatshirts and had greasy hair. You liked me even though I wore Mountain Ridge wood coins as earrings and I liked you even though your eyeliner went around your entire eye like a raccoon and your life-long dream was to be a cat-lady. Good times :)

9th grade you became obsessed with the 80's. Probably one of my favorite years; going to D.I. every weekend, being the queens of the stake dances, falling in love, and growing up.

We became extremely close that year. I saved all the comic strip notes you drew me. They are in my closet. I've saved almost everything you've given me, actually. You have you own filing folder: "Stuff from Hannah".

I have an email folder named "Hannah" too. I found this gem today looking at our old email chains:

"I can definitely see us being those ornery old ladies who go play bingo on saturday nights. We'll probably be friends for forever, unfortunately. I don't know if I can get rid of you. Haha. Just kidding. We can bring our husbands and go do old people stuff all the time. Like play golf, and what not."




You wrote this to me when we graduated from Junior High.

Once again, we were faced with the prospect of being separated. This time though, it wasn't an April Fools joke, it was for real. I went off to Lone Peak High School, you left me to American Fork High School. We were both scared. But we knew that we could be best friends even if we went to different schools:

"Promise you won't forget about me over at Lone Peak?" you asked.

"I promise. We will always be best friends Hannah. Going to different schools isn't going to change that."

And it didn't.

That first year of high school was hard for us. We were both lonely. Both a little confused. Both a little heartsick. But, as always, we had each other.

What a crazy time of life?! We had a group of friends at two high schools, planned an activity every weekend, went on double dates, did each others hair for school dances, had our winter video game marathons, went to DISNEYLAND together, and made our first "List of the Agenda".

We fought more often than normal in High School. We were changing. We were different. It was hard sometimes. But I'd open my door at night to a baggie of M&M's and a sweet note from you. Or I'd slave away to make you some homemade rolls to apologize. We would predict each others futures while we looked at the stars on your roof and watched as Dumbledore's Illuminator kept taking the light out of the corner street lamp. Or drink lemonade on the porch in our homemade sundresses.

I held you when your heart broke.

I cried when I sang the line in "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus" in church that said I'm learning to serve my friends because I thought of you. And how much I loved you and was trying to serve you. Even when it was hard.

I transferred schools Junior year to be a closer to you.

You contemplated having a fake identity and joining the Lone Peak Marching band with me :)

We talked almost every day.

When we came to college our 4th grade dream came true. ROOMMATES! I think I learned to love you more in the first semester of school than I ever had before.

Then I moved to Florida and you to Kansas. And Hannah, those 4 months were the longest we'd been away from each other in 11 years. Wow.

We grew and learned and transformed. Another semester with you in college and once again you took care of me with your love, sweetness, service, dedication to God and family, meals(I'd probably have starved without them), laughter, and friendship.

You have been there for me through IT ALL. Every hardship and weakness. You know me better than anyone. Truly.

And I love you. Truly.


Two months ago I came into your room and hugged you from behind and kissed your hair and just stayed their for a moment to chat. Lately, I've treasured every moment I'm with you.



"Shelby, will you be my maid of honor?" you asked.

Tears filled my eyes and fell onto your head as I responded "Of course".



You are soon to be Hannah Hartshorn. And I will have to give you away to your new best friend.



It's a little sad in a way. And I cry all the time when I think of it. But, they aren't tears of sadness. They are tears of blissful, wonderful, joyful, happiness. I cry when I run pass the temple and think how you are getting sealed their to the love of your life. I cry when I watch your engagment photo slide show at FHE. I'm so full of emotion I have to leave. I cry when I see you and Nathan watching "It's a Wonderful Life" in our living room. I cry when you send me a picture of your wedding dress on you. It's one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. I cry when I wrap your wedding gift or when I make scandalous invitations for your Bachelorette party.

I cry when I tell people I am going to be able to sit in the Celestial Room with you and watch you create your own eternal family.

Words cannot describe the joy.

You did it, Hannah.

You made it to the temple with the man you love.

And even though I am giving you up to something greater, I know those first words of comfort you gave me when we were nine are still true.

We will always be best friends.

Forever.

Even if life takes us in different directions and we sometimes don't see each other for years. I know we will talk and write and laugh and love, like always. Our paths will always cross. Our kids can play together and we can go play golf with our husbands and play bingo as old fat ladies, just like you envisioned.

"We don't have to be in the same place to be best friends."



And we can be best friends forever.




For Eternity, in fact.

I love you, Hannah.