jacksonville

this weekend I was able to visit one of my closest friends Jennie Proto in jacksonville, florida.  i met JP during my senior year of high school at a gathering of recently-accepted Elon University students.  when i first met her, i thought she was nice, albeit sorta quiet, pretty innocent and frankly a little weird.

we ended up living on the same hall freshman year and i quickly looked past my judgments and found the remarkable, intelligent, and caring girl underneath.  we remained close the rest of the year, and the next year throughout my time away from school, and for the next three years after that.

we’ve serviced together.  we’ve hiked together.  we’ve encouraged each other.  we’ve cuddled together.  we’ve eaten a lot of bagels and sandwiches at blue moon cafe together.

we’ve disagreed with each other, we’ve bickered with one another.  we’ve ignored each other’s pieces of advice when we were too stupid and proud (i’d imagine this pertains mostly to me).  but what it all comes down to is that we really just love one another.

i flew down to florida early thursday morning and spent the day lounging, beachin’, roller blading, eating and drinking out.  we fell asleep before 10 o’clock.

we biked on friday.  a lot.

i sat on a beach for five hours straight in that perfect temperature with that perfect sand and that perfect view with that perfect friend.

saturday was a similar tune.  plus the notes of ice cream, shopping, fort-exploring and sangria.

we chatted. we played catchup.  we made impromptu road trip plans and laughed our faces off.  we complained.  we sunscreened and we sweated and we took walks on the beach.

my weekend with JP was the perfect remedy for the problems and dilemmas i’ve been currently battling with.  i’m constantly being inspired by the way JP pursues every opportunity presented to her.  you become like the people you surround yourself with and i am so thankful that she has taught me to be a more kind, patient, and loving person and follower of Jesus.

the booze didn’t hurt much, either.