an ode to Gan...

I met Gan in the fall of 2004 when she moved in on campus to begin her educational career at California Baptist University and was placed on 1B - the very best location in all of Simmons Hall, the freshmen girls’ dorm. I vaguely remember being SUPER EXCITED for new student move-in day. I was a sophomore at the time and was working as an Admissions Host and the “Student Life Coordinator” for the entire dorm (my job was to make ALL THINGS FUN, ALL THE TIME) so I’d been on campus for days training and getting things prepared and watching the dorm finally begin to fill with brightly colored lily pulitzer comforters was what my dreams were made of. I am pretty sure Megan would tell you that I was a LOT to take in that first day - that I busted into her room with FAR too much excitement, but it was the start of something ridiculously good. The start of what is now almost 11 of years of adventuring together through some of the best years of our lives.

Megan and I lived on 1B together that year and it laid the foundation of our friendship. We had one class together - History of England - a class that stressed me out to the max because it felt almost impossible to pass, but Gan wasn’t the slightest bit concerned (this is absolutely a depiction of our personalities, one of us is SUPER chill and the other needs to be force fed Xanex from time to time). Gan also made appearances in my speech class periodically. Professor Hockett was older than dirt (both of Megan’s parents have memories of her teaching when they were undergraduate students at CBC) and was hilarious and totally worth coming to class for. Outside of class we made some memories that are ONLY possible at CBU - afternoons like RECESS where all the classes are cancelled and childhood activities are in abundance, or CAMPUS DAYS where the entire school competes and there is some ridiculous obsession with a really heavy pot. That year we were the 1B golfers and we were legit enough to make our grand entrance on a golf cart thanks to my employment with Admissions! We spent a lot of Friday nights watching The Lizzy McGuire movie while eating the pizza that came in strips, went to at least a couple water polo games (a lot of our hallmates were on the team) a LOT of volleyball games and rocked our free CBU t-shirts, shared clothes (I prefer to interject the word stole here - especially when it comes to pajama pants and a particular sweatshirt, but after 11 years you just let a few things go, right? And since Gan will likely read this, I will also say she would argue she “STOLE WITH PERMISSION” - and she’s at least partially right, I did KNOW that she permanently borrowed these items - it wasn’t at all like the klepto down the hall who literally stole things.) ate copious amounts of cafeteria food, sat through a LOT of chapels and went on at least a few weekend adventures.

As college continued, our activity list evolved significantly. She moved into the cottages and I eventually moved into an apartment (with the worst roommate ever I might add, but we cannot even begin to delve into that here). We had Grey’s Anatomy nights where Erika ate approximately 5 servings worth of potatoes and taught us the beauty of “pizza dip” and then moaned from the couch about how much her stomach hurt. We made a lot of “mixes” with songs we could sing at the top of our lungs like "Hey Juliette" and often used words like goldcoast and biscuit. We skipped class far more often than I should admit “publicly on this blog” to watch What Not To Wear with our to-go lunches because there are few things better in life than Stacey London and Clinton Kelley. We decorated our Christmas branch, made quite possibly the ugliest t-shirts of all time, and played a really risky game of earth ball with Tessa’s yoga ball, which we all knew was entirely off-limits for outdoor game play. Apparently Gan and Erika stole my car for trips to Jack in the Box for cookies and cream shakes and curly fries while I was at work. Our friendship was as strong as ever - it was what dreams are made of.

In 2007 I graduated and adulthood had to begin. It was a tough pill to swallow. I moved to Placentia, CA to begin my career and PRAISE THE LORD, that is where Gan’s parents lived as well. When she came home for weekends or breaks from school, we got to spend time together. The murmurings of an adult friendship began and when she graduated in May 2008 and moved home, it was official - we became best adventuremates. It started with Wednesday evening dates on Birch Street - we went to movies - all kinds of movies - every single movie. We ate crepes and drank coffee and watched award shows. We bought Disneyland passes and started spending a LOT of time at THE DIZ and DIZ CA. The words, “WE HAD SO MUCH FUN“ truly do not even begin to cover it. I worked full-time at EvFree Fullerton and she worked at ECCU but we adventured a LOT outside office hours. In the summer of 2008 Kenz got hired at EvFree and shortly thereafter our duo became a trio. We created the “HOT TUB CLUB” and added happy feet to our list of favorite places (Kenz might beg to differ on that one). We took Kenz on her first birthday adventure - a CUPCAKE CRAWL just before the big-bad gluten allergy formally claimed Gan as another victim and stole all her baked good happiness (though we are forever thankful for amazing places like Babycakes and LayerCake for their gluten free delectables). We fell in love with restaurants like Olive Pitt and were forever happy to get a pedicure on a lazy Saturday afternoon. We went on an annual trip to the San Clemente Beach House where we watched countless hours of Harry Potter and The Mole and GIRLS. We became ladies who brunch. It was perfection. I finished my Masters degree in Business Administration and Gan showed up at my house with a bottle of PINK champagne and we celebrated together. We had Christmas parties and birthday celebrations including all kinds of little adventures - there was ice-skating, trips to the zoo where we met and rode Becky, the worst rendition of Little Women any of us have EVER seen, afternoons at The Ghetty, sunsets at Carlsbad, a really sandy beach picnic, two trips to Ellen, lots and lots of shopping and more coffee than you can possibly imagine.

Although long anticipated, the fateful news that Gan was being let go from her position at ECCU did eventually come and along with it came the even more dreaded realization that most likely moving to Pismo Beach would also be in the near future as her dad had just taken a position at a church there. Far too soon the Placentia house sold and the PODS were packed and Gan was gone. However, our adventures were FAR from over. Three day weekends in SLO became an eagerly anticipated event. We visited thrift stores and did some very easy hiking to take in the most beautifully stunning views, went to Shell Beach, did some wine tasting, experienced the Luffa Farm. There is a delightful little coffee shop in Arroyo Grande - Cafe Andreini - that I absolutely adore with a chocolate peanut butter something or other that is absolutely to-die for. We made LOTS of memories while Gan lived in Pismo. Some I am sure she would like to forget - but none of those involved me! We also had this incredible weekend in San Francisco during her tenure there. We ate at Foreign Cinema and rode bikes through Golden Gate Park as it drizzled just slightly. We really have done so many incredible things together.

Sooner than anticipated, that chapter closed and the McAlpine clan was off to the desert - so much closer to home - and new hope was born for quick weekend trips and short extravaganzas. With only a 2 hour drive, lunch and a movie became an option again. Gan and I were back to our perfect day…coffee, a movie, a quick run into Nordy’s Rack, and another coffee. Kenz got engaged in December 2013 and Gan and I were both asked to be bridesmaids. We were at showers and the bachelorette and there was probably Christmas and a birthday celebration or two thrown in. After a whirlwind of activity, a radiant and glowing Kenz walked down the aisle and said I do and embarked on her happily ever after with Jason.

As we have gotten older, life has gotten increasingly full and there are miles and and jobs and ministries and so many other things that live in the spaces between us. With Kenz and Jason married and Gan dating Ryan, it has become a bit more challenging to spend time as a group. At Christmas we were finally all able to all meet up again and had one of our very best adventures ever as Kenz and Jason treated us to Adventures in Odyssey live on stage at Azusa. Gan and I grew up loving the kids radio drama, so seeing it live was unbelievably fun. After so many months apart, it was also a wonderful reminder of how treasured our friendships really are. It was sort of a magical day for me. It was so good for my heart.

I have held firmly to that over the past few months. Gan and I have seen each other a few times and I had the pleasure of actually meeting Ryan. So when I got the text on Friday that he was going to propose and wanted me to drive out for the surprise engagement party there was absolutely no question of where I would be. Gan and I have spent 11 years laughing through life together. It’s kind of amazing to me when I think about it. Who would have thought when Gan moved in on 1B almost 11 years ago that she would be one of the best things that ever happened to me? That we would share so many moments and make so many memories? I’ve done more adventuring with Megan than probably anybody else in my life. When we met, we were babies - she was 18 and I was 19. We had NO IDEA what life had in store. I guess we still don’t. But this I do know. I know that Gan is one of the most vibrant women I have ever known. I know that she loves the Lord and she lives life to the fullest regardless of circumstances. I know that she does not succumb to the pressures of this world (even if you use the word friendship) and she knows exactly who she is. I know she loves Ryan and that she will be an incredible wife. And I know that I am a better me because of walking alongside her and having her speak truth into my life and that I will forever consider myself blessed to have adventured with her through this season. Last night Gan said yes and is now wearing the most gorgeous diamond ring and beginning the walk into a whole new chapter of life and I will be celebrating and cheering and praying her into all that is to come - but right now in this moment - I am just so thankful for the past 11 years with my very best adventuremate and the incredible, beautiful, amazing, wonderful gift the Lord gave me in her friendship! iloveyou Gan!