Those kinds of friends

(In Drumheller on the infamous 2003 cross-Canada trip--holy crap it's still on the web)

Sometimes you meet someone and you have an instant connection with them.  Others you don't think have much potential, but surprise you and end up being some of your lifelong dearest friends.  Some friends come and go, but others stick with you through the thick and thin of it, through tests that would surely break apart any weaker ties.

This morning one of my best, best friends of the last eight odd years left to go live in Argentina for the next three months.  He's going there for a bunch of different reasons, you can read em for yourself on his blog and follow along his journey there and on his flickr.

(Sometime in late 2003 or winter 2004?)

Some of you know more details about our history than others, but suffice to say our relationship has changed a lot over the years, from acquaintances to friends, to more, and then back again.  It's kind of crazy looking back, I never would have imagined the future the way it played out, and yet it all seems so normal now.

There were times when I wasn't sure if our friendship would survive the beating we put it through, but sure enough, we've weathered the storm and come out the other side, not too much worse for the wear.

(Taken by Lynn Hadfield at Mark and Deb's wedding, July 2005)

It's shocking how much you can care about someone who drives you so insane at times, but when it comes down to it you get a lot of people thrown at you over the course of time, and some just stick.

I know if I'd never befriended that weird boy across the courtyard who swept the porch in his bathrobe, that my adult life so far would have been very different, and all told I'm really pleased with how things have turned out.

(Portland, this past summer)

Thanks for everything from being my travel companion, to my personal career coach, to my sounding board, and most of all, one of my bestest friends EVAR!  I hope you have an amazing trip, but don't forget to come home!!!

Scott should be somewhere over Central America by now.  I invite you all to post in the comments and wish him well or make fun of him, which ever you're in the mood for, so he can feel the love when he gets to his new home.