"Gyspy gold does not chink and glitter. It gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark."
~Attributed to the Claddaugh Gypsies of Galway
What is the definition of a friend? The dictionary states it's "a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard."
In my eyes a friend is someone I can trust, rely on and share my darkest secrets with. Someone who looks upon me as an equal despite age or rank. Someone I can share a laugh with, someone who will be there for me if I need a shoulder to cry on, someone who can be a complete goofball but also has such talent to be anything they dream of doing or becoming.
A year or so ago, I found that ideal friend. Her name is Gabrielle Nelson. For years I knew her younger sister, Emma, without any hint that her older sister would become a most cherished friend. The world of horses brought us together and for that I hold horses even higher on my already sky-high "horse" pedestal. At this point I didn't have Rosie but she already had had Twilight for quite some time. To be honest, I don't recall those days when our friendship was just forming. I can easily recall the day my mom and I went out with Gabbi and her mom to Trina's barn for the first time. It was a windy day and brutally cold. Gabbi gave me a tour of the barn and then we headed home. My next memory is Gabbi and I being fast friends, heading out to the barn together every other day and going on countless adventures throughout the course of the year.
If someone were to ask me, "what makes you and Gabrielle so compatible and close?" My answer?
No clue...
Somehow it just works. Now it is beginning to sound like we are a married couple but it is the god-to-honest truth. I don't know what makes us so close. We have shared countless adventures. We have seen each other at our worst moments and I am sure there have been times when we have been raving mad at each other but the great thing about our friendship, is that we don't let it get to us. Our friendship is so strong that I think it would take a hell of a lot to ruin it. I'm not about to test that theory, its just a confident observation!
For almost a year and a half, Gabbi and I have been fast friends. In another school year, she will leave for college and I'll be without a barn buddy and a best friend. That's not to say I will never see her again. It'll just be different. I won't be able to call her at 11 p.m. to discuss what god-forsaken early hour of the morning we will head out to the barn. There won't be any of those all day "barn-days" where breakfast is served in the hay loft watching the sun come up, where the horses are pampered and an all day trail ride is a MUST! Sure I will see her on holidays and vacations but it won't be the same. She knows I will still be here when she comes home and we both plan to take our horses to college (despite our parents, "Your on your own" attitude). Until Gabbi gets settled and finds her legs financial-wise, Twilight will always have a home here with me for as long as she needs it.
I feel grateful and quite honoured that I have such a friend like Gabbi. Not many people get to be this lucky and I constantly have to remind myself not to take such a friend for granted. I could wake up one morning and find that I don't have Gabbi as a friend anymore. Thank you Gabbi for being such a wonderful and amazing friend and person. NEVER CHANGE!!
