The words "Best Friend" become refined.

What is a best friend? Like, really?
Everyone throws that term around just as much as they throw the word "love" like a tennis ball.
I would like to think I've had quite a few, but since the definition seems to change as years (or months) pass by, I don't know anymore.
There's an obvious statement I am about to make: that only Jesus can be my 100% true best friend.
I know that.
What stumps me is this best friend thing.
Honestly, though, I personally see a best friend as being someone you are able to tell everything about yourself to, and do so on those late nights walking on the beach or drinking coffee in Starbucks.
I think I should make a list of all the things I think the term "best friend" equals.

-Honesty is crucial. True friendship can afford true knowledge. It does not depend on darkness and ignorance.
-Enjoying each other's compay is a key factor in any relationship. And if it's your "best friend," I think you are supposed be able to be stupid and silly around each other and not feel weird.
-Love. I really should have put this first. I believe you cannot truly love someone unless you have seen EVERY side of them. Good mood, bad mood, heartbroken, ecstatic, angry... etc. Because THAT is when you know who you are really dealing with. And with love comes things like patience, care, commitment, and forgiveness. It seems a sin to group those big words into one category, but I really do not want to bore anyone.
-Understanding. I think one main reason I've called people my best friend, past or present, is because I thought they truly understood me and my feelings (and most of the time they did). I think that someone who is called your best friend should be able to tell there's something wrong without without you even saying anything. So many times I hear of people, or experienced firsthand, how "so-and-so just doesn't get me."
If you want to BE a best friend, you HAVE to put yourself in other's shoes. I find myself doing this without thinking. My parents say I have a "gift" for personally experiencing other people's pain. I think they call that compassion these days.
-With understanding comes listening. I have been told for years I'm a great listener... but I've also been told I talk too much. Sometimes, you don't want someone to always tell you what to do, but you just want someone's unclogged ear, focused eyes, and open mind.
-Inside Jokes. Have you ever heard of a pair of best friends that didn't have inside jokes? I find that these are probably one of my most favorite things about relationships. Laughing can be put in this category. And laughing really is the best medicine.
-Acceptance. This is probably one of the most important part of a close friendship. It's also made me realize why so many relationships haven't worked out in the past. Either they didn't accept me and I was always trying to meet their approval, or I put too much dependence on them being everything I expected.
What it comes down to, really, is seeing someone naked and loving them anyways (not literally, obviously, but feel free to make that journey on your own...) Someone once said to me, "You're my best friend because you accept me no matter what." I told them, sincerely, "I always will."

So, if all of that amounts to the status of "best friend," why are there so many people who have "backstabbing" BFFS or, like, 3574309572 best friends? How can everyone be all those things to so many people, anyways? Should a best friend be singular, or can you have oodles?
Personally, I think you really can't have, like, 12 true best friends. That seems like overload. Surely, you can have as many great friends as you want. But a best friend, like BEST, is someone who rises above the crowd. They don't exactly get more of your love, but they are the person(s) who accepts you, is there for you, and loves you no matter what.

If I think really hard about it, I could say that currently I have tons of great friends.
But, best friends?
That's the question.
Where do you draw a line? Is it when someone else calls you their BFF first?
Is it when someone meets your expectations, or when they rise above them?
Are you not meant to divide your friends up in categories? Not that I do, neccesarily...

I know for certain Sarah Magill is and has been and will be my best friend. I've known her for 13 years. And even if we don't hang out all the time or see each other alot, when we do nothing has changed. We pick up right from where we left off.

PBA has supplied me with many awesome friends. I really do consider many of them "best friends."
Is that wrong? Does it really matter?
How can someone have so many? What makes certain people out of your class of "best friends" more special, though? Is it a sin to favor certain people over others? I think it is...

I've kept some "best friends" from 8th grade and 9th grade. But is the status "best friend" an eternal state of being or is there a point where your old best friend "deactivates?"

Maybe I'm thinking about this too much. I would like someone to share their opinions though...

Normality... HA

Well this weekend/monday has been interesting.
Yesterday, my friend invited me and another friend to her youthgroup's pool party.
It was sufficiently awkward when Charmaine and I arrived.
We walked in the house (where we've never been) and proceeded to try to find the porch.
After stepping onto the patio, an old man greeted us, while another man stood at the grill making meat things.
There was a big group of middleschool girls in bikinis and two boys standing outside in the grass. Two lines, facing each other.
"Come pick a team, guys!" said a lady outside who dragged us out the door onto the grass.
Charmaine and I shared glances of desparation, and we looked at our friend who invited us, Rayna...
As if we were communicating "we will kill you."

Let me make it clear that not only does Charmaine and I hate group events where we know noone, but we are not fans of group activities... especially games.

We started playing "steal the bacon" as requested. Getting bit by ants and running to retrieve said "bacon" (in this case, a crocks shoe) isn't my cup of tea, but at least Char was my opponent... And I won every time.

To make this situation even more awkward, there was a chick about our age with a bi-racial baby who proceeded to take part in the game whilst holding said baby. She ended up tripping and dropping him... And of course his cry pierced the sky and Charmaine and I exchanged some more glances.
Nevertheless, we decided to sit out the next game.

While grabbing our shoes, the older man in the porch comes up to the screen and says, "So, what grade you girls in?" I replied for both of us that we were actually in college. He didn't believe us, of course -___-

May I take a minute to explain how much I LOATHE it when this question pops up. Honestly, if I could punch them without getting in trouble, I so would. Why does everyone think that I am 14 years old?! It's like they secretly know how to piss me off, and do so. I can assure everyone, I am 19 years old. And yes, I'm in college. I've had this bitter problem of appearing half a decade younger than I am for a very long time. In fact, just today some girl knocked on my door to share the gospel and thought I was 13 -__- It could be my height, or my lack of double-Ds... But, of course, as Charmaine says: I'd rather be a girl with no boobs than a man with big boobs.

Moving on,
Rayna did know beforehand that we were attending only for food. And her, of course. No matter how awkward situations can be, I will persist to be there for Rayna if she asks. Even if one of the women use Charmaine's soda cup to scoop out ice... not realizing soda was getting in the ice...
After eating hot dogs, and Charmaine throwing a fit over staying longer than planned, we had a nice little Bible Study. We were asked to put our feet in the pool, and the old man threw a hatchet into the water. The Bible story was about someone losing a "borrowed" axe head in the sea, and it swimming to shore by "the grace of God." Not really sure what the message was...

That night, after going home (well, getting lost trying to get out of the neighborhood), Jenny texts me saying "Rayna and I are coming to get you so we can eat appetizers at a fancy restaurant. Get dressed up!"
I do so, as they creep in my house and scare the living daylights outta me.
We walked around St. Armands to try to find a good place, and while looking at the menu for this fancy Italian restaurant, the waiter comes up saying, "tequila shots?" He makes a gesture with his hands that implied taking shots. We told him we were not old enough. "Only one more year till it's legal!" I said. Okay, I lied.
It's more like two for us, but hey... this was one of the rare occasions someone mistakes me for being OLDER.
And so, I embraced it.
He replied, "that never stopped me," gave us a wink, and asked to seat us. We said we wanted to look around some more and we might be back.
Then, of course, another awkward moment...
The waiter looks right at Rayna and says "okay, I love you."
So, we got out of there ASAP.
But, we actually ended up going there anyways...And the night proceeded to be awkward as I dropped my tomatoes on the floor and kept having to tell Jenny to get her elbows off the table.

Either way, it was an adventureous weekend... And although it had its awkward moments...
I wouldn't have traded it for a different weekend.

If you really knew me...

If you really knew me,
you'd KNOW...

That I keep certain voicemails from people on my phone... in case I have no way of ever hearing their voice again.

You'd know...
That I may be tough and "don't give a crap" on the outisde, but on the inside I strive to maintain harmony in relationships. And usually succeed.

You'd know...
I hate the word "pluck." But I love the word "fetching."

You'd know...
Sometimes, I idealize relationships too much, and end up being let down.

You'd know...
My favorite food is
fried chicken and brownies (though not together).

You'd know...
That I don't think "freaking" or "crap" or "whore" are bad words.

You'd know...
That if I told you anymore, then I'd have to kill ya.