The End of an Era: To my dearest sister, Angie!

A post dedicated to my best friend, flatmate, and soul sister Angie Funk!

I wanted to post this before/right as I was leaving for South Korea but so much was going on that I wasn't able to truly digest everything.  Things here is Korea have been almost non-stop since I got here.  I have talked about my sister, Angie Funk, so often that people are starting to wonder where she is at, and I am wondering that as well.  The best news I received this afternoon, when I finally figured out how to connect to the internet, was that Angie is truly right behind me and will be in Korea next week.

While I am excited that my best friend will join me on this adventure soon, it doesn't diminish the fact that we have truly come to the end of the era of us living together.  It was 11 years ago that I met Angie and if anyone would have told me then that she and I would one day consider each other sisters, I probably would not have scoffed but I definitely would have doubted it; I had heard that from friends in the past all too often and then as time went by the friendships faded like a photograph left in the sun.

While at first it was our mutual love of ice hockey and really most other sport that brought us together and solidified our friendship, the fact that we have seen each other through the toughest of rough times that has made our friendship into something special.  It is easy to have friends when times are good, but those that stick by you when times are tough are the friends you know are true and everlasting.  Through love and loss, unemployment, poverty and then better than decent income, amazing parties (oh yes those New Year's parties in San Diego, Legend-ary!), travel and traditions we have been there for each other.

I have to admit I enjoy describing our relationship to strangers and the uncomprehending looks and questions we receive.  "Wait.  You guys have lived together for how long?  And your just friends?"  People may not understand our friendship, but it is not for them to understand.  You are the Ethel to my Lucy, the Christina to my Meredith, and definitely the Felix to my Oscar.  While the end of one era of our friendship has come, the beginning to the next adventure in our friendship is upon us.  In some ways we will share the experience of teaching English in South Korea, we will also face this experience on our own and yet we will never be alone.  No matter where we are in life, I know Angie is only a phone call or car/train/plane ride away.  I can't wait to see what the next chapter of our friendship will bring and what new and exciting adventures I will have with my sister!  Will you just get here now already?