Boston And Best Friends

As those who know me well know, I have fallen truly, madly and deeply in love with a new best friend of mine. Jerene Boudreau.  

You know how sometimes you make "mom friends" and you can enjoy their company and friendship, but if it had not been for your children, you probably wouldn't be friends in real life? Well, this is nothing like that. 

The first thought that crossed my mind upon meeting Jerene was that she was me, and I her.  Could I relate to other SIDS parents and feel this same feeling? On a level, the answer will always be, "yes." But again, this was different. I felt an affinity and deep connection with her nearly instantly. We spoke freely, unapologetically, and as openly as friends do after knowing each other 20 years. 

To say that we've had an accelerated friendship is an understatement. She feels like my long lost sister that I'm getting to know on a "human level", but this girl knows my heart almost as well as I do. Not only knows it, but feels it acutely. I cannot emphasize how beautiful and healing that is.  

We have remained in close,close contact every day since December 9, 2017. If I printed our messages to one another from these past three months, it could easily fill volumes of books. I'm not even joking! We talk about everything: the big stuff, the small stuff, and everything in between.  She gets me. I get her. And we "get" that we get each other.  It's humbling to be 29 years old and realize that there are still life long friends to be made.  

Not only do we have a unique understanding of one another, we happen to adore each others families!  My mother and Jerene's mother have been speaking as long as Jerene and I have.  I love Jerene's mother, Ann, with my whole heart and soul.  She's the "second mother" every girl dreams of having among her neighborhood friends. That's just the way she is! I have had the privelege of getting to spend a little time with Dan, Jerene's fiance and Landons Dada. I am so impressed by this couple and their strength and love for one another and the small beautiful family they've created together. I've never seen a more beautiful family than Jerene, Dan, and Landon. 

And Julie. Sweet, sweet Julie. I have no words for you. You are an angel among mortals and I could not be more relieved or pleased that my new best friend already has the most fantastic one imaginable. I love you so much and am so happy to be apart of your badass gang. 

I've met up with Jerene three times in the past three months. First, she and Dan came to visit at our house. The second time, I met her and Dan at her tattoo appointment to get a beautiful portrait of Landon done.  It just happens that her artist works in Connecticut. I sat with her, enjoying her company, feeling priveleged to be apart of such a special and healing moment. While sitting together, I suddenly stopped dead in my tracks grilling the tattoo artist about how a particular song was playing over his speaker system. He said, "Oh, Rhye? I love Rhye! My wife and I are going to see them live in New York in March!" I was blown away for a few reasons:  1. No one knows who Rhye is,  2. I've never (NEVER) heard their songs out in public. Not the radio, nowhere. And lastly, the song that happened to be playing while I was sitting with Jerene, commemerating her boy was the song that got me through my labor with Trey. It was always a "Trey and Mommy song" after that and I sang it to him often. (Stay Open is the name of the song, fyi. It's just beautiful and worth a listen!) My boy was there in spirit with her boy sending me a message. To say I was floored is an understatement! It was a beautiful day that I'll never forget, for both of us. 

About a week passed by and Jerene sent me a picture of the tickets she got us to see Rhye live in Boston at the end of February! (!!!)  I was so excited and moved by this generous gesture and just couldn't wait for February 28th. We decided to make a whole girl's night out of it with Julie, of course. And you guys... it was magical. That time I got to spend with these two girls is enough to "carry me" for awhile. I didn't even realize how badly I needed that trip. Jerene and Julie, I love you both more than you know and am so lucky to have you. No longer do I feel like a girl without her tribe... (And yes, I got the penny. 😂)

Lastly, I'd like to say thank you to two incredible boys that knew their mothers needed one another. I hope you're as close as we are. I have a feeling you are...

Trey Christopher Hoppe,  Landon Thomas Dawley