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What does it mean to be "best friends" with somebody? Does it mean you hang out with them all the time, tell them everything about yourself, and share all your experiences with each other? Does it mean you have some kidn of connection with them, deeper than what others can usually comprehend?

If so, it's hard for me to say that I've had a best friend for long, though many people have held this title.

I think it began in kindergarten -- this is where the long line of best friends began. I forget her name, now, but I remember that she was Indian. My mom didn't really approve, but it went on, anyways. We would hide under the bushes at recess and make that our secret house and talk to each other on our banana telephones as if we weren't less than two feet away from each other.

First grade -- Anna. My first Vietnamese friend... However, a few months after befriending her I realised that our brains just didn't work on the same level. Middle of first grade -- Alice. This one's an interesting one, because I don't even think she ever knew that she was my best friend. She was very popular (and much taller than me), and she is probably one of the smartest people I've ever met. I havent seen her since middle school.

In third grade my best friend's name was Cindy. That is, until I punched her in the stomach and she had to go to the hospital. -- Hey, she squished my ladybug house, what would YOU have done?

Fourth grade was strange, because I befriended somebody who had only recently come to America. When we first met, she didn't even speak any English. Her name was Amy. She was strangly wizened for a fourth grader, which made me sad many times. I guess that's what happens when you live in impoverished conditions for so long. I remember she made me cry.

Sometime in middle school I met Carolyn, a neighbor who ended becoming my closest friend in high school... Though we never called each other 'best friends'. We went everywhere together, liked the same things, we even dressed alike.

----

Through all this, I don't think I really learned much about friendship until I met Kim. She became my close friend in high school. Even though we go to different schools now, we don't share as much with each other, and we see each other only a few times a year, I still think of her as my best friend. Sure there are people that I hang out with all the time, people that I tell my problems to, but somehow I can't forget her friendship.

What does it mean to be best friends? Does it mean you hang out all the time? Have all the same interests? Talk with each other about everything in our lives?

It seems like that's the way it should be. But that's not the way it is.... How come, then, does Kim still feel like my best friend?

How come every time we see each other it's like we never left for college?

I think a best friend is more of an essence, a feeling that you get when you're with someone that makes you feel bonded with them further than just an aquaintence, further than even a friend, but something so close it's like having another sibling.

Yeah, like a sibling. I miss you Kim, my silly close as a sister all the way in berkeley, best friend.

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Posted by Kim @ 03:55 PM PST

9 have spoken

my dad is my best friend, always has been

Posted by Ameer [virtual dwelling] @ 06/03/2003 10:28 PM PST

I heard that. I moved halfway through high school, away from the guy I still consider my best friend. We still keep in touch and have yearly traditions of visiting one another. But aside from some emails from time to time, I rarely get the opportunity to talk to him. But I still feel like I know what's going on with him and that he reciprocates that. Friends like that are rare and it's like no other feeling when you get to hang out together.

Posted by doug [e-meo] [virtual dwelling] @ 05/29/2003 11:05 PM PST

Hey Kim!

Thanks for the mention. I miss you too. Grace, Hyung, and I, however, should be visiting you this summer. We're probably going to have a road trip (most likely with my car, possibly giving Hyung a chance to drive my car. I know. "The horror, the horror.") We might even go for a week. And for the record, Hyung, I don't think my old car ever dreamt about being a sports car. That goal was just a little too far out of reach. Hoping its resting in peace with that little rabbit/dog figurine thing.

Anyway, Kim, thanks for everything, and see you soon.

Posted by Berkeley Kim @ 05/28/2003 07:16 PM PST

I know what a best friend is. =)

A best friend is someone who gives you rides all throughout high school in an old car that dreams one day it will be a sports car.

=P

We're all gonna head down during the summer, I swear. You have to house us. And feed me. Don't feed Kim or Grace. Feed me. I'll eat for all of us.

-Hyung

Posted by Hyung, The Masked Wagon Racer @ 05/28/2003 05:27 PM PST

no, my best friend's name really is kim. :T

Posted by kim @ 05/25/2003 04:04 PM PST

nice introspective split personality syndrome post. I mean, that's what you intended right? Kim is your best friend as in, you are your best friend (instead of the cliché "God is my best friend"). I'm just glad that the site is much more readable than it was last week with the redesign and all.

Posted by alex [virtual dwelling] @ 05/25/2003 07:55 AM PST

and you should feel happy about your writing, kim, you do it extremely well. thanks for sharing.

Posted by tom [e-meo] @ 05/24/2003 01:42 PM PST

awww, thanks for your comment. :) you make me happy about writing.

Posted by kim @ 05/23/2003 08:38 PM PST

wow, greatly worded entry. i have to say i agree with you on that one.. my best friend also goes to berkeley and im @ uci.. and i feel exactly the same way you do. kudos for the inspiring entry, it really lighted up my mood ^_^

Posted by nancy [e-meo] @ 05/23/2003 08:13 PM PST