All Good News

A lot of people say life isn't complete without friendships. That you can't get through life's toughest challenges without the support of friends by your side. In the past two years I have discovered for myself how true those sayings really are. Since finishing high school I haven't had a lot of close friendships, or much social interaction with others. All I really wanted was to have a close friend again.

It was late 2012...and I'll never forget it. I was at the stage of trying to buy a new car, but I didn't know how to pick out a reliable one or even what to look for. One of my mum's friends, Carolyn, who works at the newsagents in my local area, offered to be the one to help me find my first car. I have known Carolyn for over ten years myself because she breeds budgies, and gave us our pied budgie Monty. And she knew everything when it came to buying cars. We went through every car online that would be suitable for me. Every car I liked, she would have it checked out to find out its history, and whether it was right for me to buy. Eventually, we found the perfect car in a Holden Astra. I wouldn't be without it now since it has given me a total sense of independence that I never had before. It was like my biggest dream at the time had come true. Even now, Carolyn is always there for me when I need help or advice with my car.

Since then, I have noticed there was something different about Carolyn than I had felt with the rest of my friends who had come in and out of my life. She was there for both my mum and I when we were going through a bad family crisis. She was the one who gave us both someone to confide in. After that I noticed the same connection that I had once had with the last person who I had considered my best friend. We share a lot in common. The same music tastes. A love of animals. The same football team. I could feel a really close bond that hadn't been matched by anyone else in my life for a long time. When it was her birthday, I bought her a best friends necklace for us both to share, to let her know how much she has come to mean to me in such a short time. And since then, Carolyn and I have become so close. Along the way I also started forming a close friendship with Carolyn's husband, Frank.

By then I was still without a job, and Carolyn helped me to get a work experience placement at the newsagents. While I was there she was like my mentor, guiding and teaching me about aspects of retail work. She was patient with me, even though I was often slow at picking things up! It helped improve my communication skills, by interacting with customers on a regular basis, and also became good friends with Jo, another lady who works there.

But Carolyn and Frank knew I needed something else to boost my confidence, and to make me feel good about myself. My birthday is only 12 days after Carolyn's so they decided, as my birthday gift, to treat me out for a day of retail therapy. And it was one of the best days of my life. I got to see a side of life that I hadn't seen before, because for such a long time I had lacked the motivation to make something of myself. But Carolyn and Frank changed that. They both show me all the time that there is someone out there who does believe in me and knows that I can succeed no matter how much doubt I have in myself. We regularly go on shopping sprees together and there's nothing better than having a friend by your side to help you look your best!

That's why they have come to mean so much to me and that I consider them my best and most special friends in the whole world, because I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for Carolyn and Frank. It's like they're more than just my friends, they're my support system, second parents, and mentors as well. How can anyone possibly have better people than that in their lives? They are the ones who lift me and motivate me to be the best I possibly can. They make me smile and laugh, and I can always be myself when I am with them. I know they are always there for me when I need someone to confide in or if I need a shoulder to cry on. I honestly don't know where or who I would be without these guys in my life. I can't describe how much I love my two best friends and will always be grateful for everything they have done for me.

I found this poem online, that describes exactly how much I love them.

You were there when I needed

An extra special friend

God must have been watching

And an Angel he did send

You've been there to guide me

To carry me along

To show me a better way

To help me sing a different song

You've been there in an instant

When I needed help quick

Without thought, without question

Your support did the trick

And, I don’t know where I’d be;

This I clearly realize

If God had not intervened

And brought you into my life.

Love you Cazza and Frank, you guys mean the world to me and always will! Nobody could ever have better buds XXXXX