My first and dearest friend, Jan.

Last weekend I was so Blessed to get to spend the weekend with my very first friend. I've known Jan since 1967 when I crossed East Street to introduce myself to our new neighbors. Since then our friendship has been one of the best gifts I have ever received. And she is one of the very few people who call me Angela.

We were friends until 6th grade when my family moved to Lake Fenton. We kept in touch and caught back up in high school when we moved back to Fenton. We took night classes together at Mott Community College where she was studying Nursing and I was in the Dental Hygiene program. We lived together across from Mott Children's Health Center and Hurley Hospital. She lived downstairs and I lived upstairs in a very scary part of town. It was typical to hear gun shots in the evening. I still can't believe we lived there! Jan was also a bridesmaid in my first wedding and she lived through my first love and marriage.

She the kind of friend I don't have to see often, but when I do we pick right back up where we left off. This past weekend we stayed at her condo at Trout Creek in Harbor Springs. We talked and talked and talked and laughed and laughed and laughed. We also shed a few tears; you know, the good kind. We both know what a gift we have and we do not take it for granted.  It is so comforting to have a friend with a very good memory. She reminded me of some very important details that I have somehow forgotten along the way. Jan knows the real me and she loves me. The way she loves and accepts people is like no other.

On Saturday evening we were in Petosky just in time to watch the sunset and I quickly grabbed my camera out of the trunk. We had a silly photo shoot and laughed some more. There was a couple in a car nearby who was watching us and got a kick out of a couple of fifty-somethings having the time of our life.

It is my honor and privilege to introduce you to my very special friend, Jan. aka... Jan Philreeski. 47 years later.