Take a guess

1. We've known each other for SOOO long. Since 5th grade to be exact. For kids who have lived overseas and moved around all their lives that really is a long time. We didn't actually become good friends until around my 8th-9th grade year, and even though I haven't seen you since the end of 9th grade, you're still one of my closest friends. We've had our rough times and our ups and downs, you've seen me act worse than I think any of my other friends have and I'm pretty sure I've treated you worse than I have with my other friends. We seem to be at odds over a lot of different things whether big or small, but I think thats ok because we've still stuck together through it all. And I hope to keep you around for quite a while yet =).

2. Even though you are my cousin you are also one of my closest friends. I remember telling you quite a while ago that even though I was closer to your sister, I thought you and I had the potential to be closer than I ever could be to her. When you came to visit me at work the night before you left I was so happy. I missed you a lot but I was leaving anyways so even if you stayed it really wouldn't have made a difference in the end. Living with you for a while gave me the opportunity to get to know you better and I'm pretty sure thats when you became more than just a cousin to me, thats when you became a friend.

3. You've made some choices in life that I don't really agree with. You know that though. But they are your choices to make and not mine, so in a way I think thats ok. Maybe I'll have to send you a couple more harsh/mean emails along the way, but I hope you know I'll always have your back and I'll be here for you and it may not seem like it at the time but I'm really sending you those emails because I care about you soooo much. You really are an amazing person and you have so much potential. It just hurts me to see you going down the wrong paths. But you know, maybe something thats the wrong path for me is the right one for you. Maybe they will both end up in the same place =). But whatever happens, always remember that I want to be here for you and support you along this dark path in our journey called life. (tacky I know, but it fit with the metaphor lol)

4. You are one of my oldest friends in Poulsbo and still one of my closest. I have no idea how we ended up as friends seeing as how you seem all shy and I don't talk to people I don't know...all I remember is that we sat next to each other in English class and then we ended up in the same History class too. I remember me and David doing all those tests and how it was so funny because half the time the answers were very similar. I remember watching the Prestige with you and how it was so incredibly awesome and we both loved it. I'm pretty sure that was one of the first times I ever hung out with anyone in Poulsbo. I really really miss you and I miss our talks and I know we didn't get to hang out as much this past year as I would have liked, but hopefully we can again sometime in the future. Keep looking forward =) you're seriously one of the most amazing christian examples my age that I think I've met. Oh yeah, and our nachos really ARE the best =).

5. So you are for sure another one of my oldest friends. And probably one of about three that I still keep in touch with in Singapore. I really don't talk to anyone from back there so feel special =). One of the things I think of a lot when I think of you is how much my mom liked you and how she never minded having you over after school. Those bus rides home when you lived in College Green were always fun and even more so if we could hang out afterwards. It was awesome when you skipped a grade and ended up in my class. You were seriously one of my first friends there and I'm glad we still are. When I left it felt kind of distant for a while and even more so when I went back to visit that one summer, but now things seem pretty much back to normal and even though we rarely talk, I think thats ok because just because we don't talk much isn't going to change how much I care about you. You really are amazing, kid =). Hopefully we'll get to hang out again soon.

6. We really haven't been friends for very long. The lame thing is that we became close at the end of the summer. I'm not saying its lame that we became close, just that it was close to when I had to leave. I'm glad it happened though. Oh we've made bad decisions, but they were pretty fun at the time =P. We definitely need to go ride bikes at Walmart when I come home. Thanks for driving down to Dairy Queen when Meghan texted you that one night and being there for me and just staying with me until like 3AM. I really needed that. I really am glad we became such good friends and if everthing works out I can't wait for spring break! =D

7. I may not have told anyone before, but honestly you were a big part of why I didn't want to move to Ireland and why I want to come home for Christmas. I'm sorry if I confused you and made you feel bad at all at the beginning of the summer. I'm sorry if I ever was mean to you cause I know I was occasionally. But we've talked about all that and I know its all good. You really are an amazing person =) I enjoyed our almost daily movie nights that we had when my dad was overseas. And work was so much fun when we played tricks on everyone and stuff! =) Maybe if I came home things could be different but I guess we're just going to have to wait and see what happens. I'm not sure if you're going to read this, but I want you to know that I'm willing to wait for you until you move on. I really miss you.

8. I know you know this, but I'm gonna say it again =P I hated the term best friend before I met you. You really are one of the most amazing people I've ever met and SUCH a good friend. I know we've both been through a lot but thats just how we became who we are today, right? =) I miss you more than you could even imagine. To me a soul mate is you connect with, someone you have a natural friendship with, someone who you're meant to be friends with forever. I remember when we met almost two years ago. Probably on or just after your birthday. I remember after that I'd see you around school. And there was just something about you that struck me and stuck with me and even though I didn't know you I still liked you anyways but figured we'd never be friends. Then I started at Dairy Queen that summer and you came back shortly afterwards. I told you about how a couple days ago when I was reading through old msn conversations from over a year ago when you said something about how we must be 'psychically connected' or something like that. I still think thats amazing because we barely knew each other when you said that and its been a running joke ever since even though we didn't realize it til the other night =) We really have to write down our pact list somewhere better than your phone =) in case you break it or lose it or something! We can't have that. There was that one that was 'keep each other awake' which refers to roadtrips...I'm not sure if we should take it off the list or not =P Man I miss all our fun times and being ninja and adventures and awesomeness! I'm so glad we carried a camera with us a lot this summer because it sort of makes being away easier since I can look back on all the pictures and they always make me grin because we look like idiots in the picture. Either that or we look awesome =P haven't decided yet.

9. So, I guess we've known each other for over a year, but for some reason we weren't really friends until recently. I'm glad we became friends though. You are such a cool person. I like how we talk almost every day too. Theres really only three people I talk to pretty much every day you know and as I said you're one of them =) I know college sucks and I know you're lonely, but its ok, it'll get better. Just wait til I come home or you come here and we'll go clubbing or something lol! I miss you and our game nights so much. Those were always awesome. I miss working together and picking up our Bainbridge boys with secret love notes! Oh man and who could forget Boner boy too! Hahahaha that was such a great night. And then after that we saw him everywhere. It really was an awesome summer. We had way too much fun and took way too many pictures =) but somehow not enough at the same time. Hopefully next year if you do come here we'll get to hang out occasionally. Thanks for being there for me =).

10. I'm really glad to have met you. You have been such an inspiration to me. I have really enjoyed just sitting and talking to you. I miss that a whole lot. I first heard about you through my youth group, and even though we didn't actually meet until almost a year later, I still heard a lot about you and felt a connection to you anyway. Its kind of like...when I was little I got this pouch from a church garage sale. On the back written in a black permanent marker and in huge childish letters was the name 'Derek Will'. Ever since I got that pouch I wondered who this Derek boy was, how old he was, what he was up to, and other things. Then my dad and sister moved to Poulsbo six months after I did. Everything that I had left in Singapore came with them including that pouch. I had long forgotten about it, left it in a box forgotten and outgrown with a lot of other toys. Then this summer while I was going through everything in my room and deciding what to get rid of I came across the pouch and saw the name on the back. Derek Will. I actually know that boy. He married a friend of mine a couple months ago. Its just amazing how these things work out and how small the world is. I really think you are going to be great some day. You just have such a drive for life and your friends and everything you do. Keep on living strong, buddy.

11. Hey friend, =) we really have had some fun times haven't we? Sleepovers, friend maps, toast at two in the morning back when two in the morning was late =P, Aloha Friday, sleepovers ON A SCHOOL NIGHT! OMG vampires, videos, evil bacon, Viva La Vida, sea deer, crazy old cat women eating trail mix, people stalking our tracks along the beach, oh man I could probably go on for so much longer =). I miss you so much and all the fun things we always did! And I'm your manager remember? I think you were mine too...or you were just my Idea consultant or something lol. Like that time you jacked my car and weren't there to stop me from inhaling that firework smoke bomb thing and it ended up shooting me in the eye lol. Luckily Tina was there to take care of me =P hahaha. I'm pretty sure you drove up when I was on the ground though...but I don't really remember lol cause I couldn't see anything. Too bad you aren't here now to stop me from doing anything stupid like that. Thanks for inviting me over to your house. I really loved going to your house. It was just so amazing to be there I guess. Your mom reminds me a lot of my own and it just made things a lot easier to deal with. It was nice to sometimes be able to pretend I was a part of your family and just hang out with everyone. You guys really are so important to me, especially you. I don't know what I'd do without you and I'm so happy to have you as a friend. I miss you SO much and I'm glad that we do get to talk sometimes. I know its not every day but thats ok because it makes the occasional chat that much more special. I hope I that we'll be able to see each other soon in some way. And thanks for taking all those pictures and putting them up for me to see =) it makes me feel more connected with everyone back home.

12. Hey buddy, we rarely talk to each other anymore. Like...at all. Its kind of sad I guess. But I think we'll do ok. We can get right back to where we left off when we do talk anyways. You are such a strong person, always willing to be there for everyone and anyone who needs you. You have such a big heart. I always enjoyed hanging out with you. It was always so much fun. And all those tricks we played on Mackinnon in English! Those were great too! It was too bad we didn't really have any classes together last year, but thats ok cause we still got to hang out fairly often. Thanks for being there for me and always being willing to listen when I just wanted to yell about something =) you're an amazing friend and I miss you a whole lot. We should try to talk more from now on, deal?

13. Theres something special about you. There really is. I can never put my finger on it but...I dunno, I can just tell its there. We didn't really get all that close until toward the end of the school year and then even more so this summer when you started working at Dairy Queen. I've really enjoyed hanging out with you cause you're such a funny boy. Oh, sorry =P I forgot, MAN. I know you have been through, are going through, and will be going through hard times in the future, but like I told you in the airport the day I left, if you ever need anyone to talk to just let me know, k? I'll sit and listen for however long it takes, no matter how late it is. You really are a good kid =) and such a great friend. I miss hanging out with you and working with you and all the things you would say by accident and then we would twist and tease you about. =) Go make me a sandwich.