Meet My Best Friend - Kate the (Almost) Great

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I have been so fortunate in my life to have the support system that I do. This system includes not only my awesome family, but also my best friend, Sara. I don’t share a super ton of my personal life on here, so I figured I would let you guys in a little bit more by talking about our relationship, which has been so crucial in getting me through some of the worst of my life over the 7 years that I’ve known her.

Sara and I met way back in 2010 through the choir we were both a part of at Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt University Concert Choir (VUCC) has this saying – come for the music, stay for the people. And it’s so true! I joined in the second half of my freshman year when it became clear that I couldn’t continue to play the viola (this led to my diagnosis with arthritis). That first semester, Sara was studying abroad, but we connected in the fall of 2010 when she returned. We hit it off immediately because our sense of humor is really similar and we have similar backgrounds.

What started as friends who happen to be in the same friend group in fall 2010 led to being incredibly close by the time that she graduated in May 2011. We kept in touch afterwards and – she can correct me if she remembers it differently – actually grew closer after she graduated. She started working in Dallas, Texas, while I experienced one of the worst health years of my life my junior year of college. She helped me get through the uncertainty and the ER trips and the pain, even though we were in completely separate states.

Over the years, we’ve gotten closer and closer, which was definitely helped by her moving to Boston shortly before I moved back home here. Now, I joke that her family gets her for major holidays, but I get her for the minor ones.

Part of why we’re so close is all that we’ve been through together. We’ve each gone through several relationships and breakups, as well as graduate degrees. There have been deaths and severe medical issues in our families. She has been my friend since months after I was diagnosed with arthritis and has listened to me complain and cry with frustration and pain.

Here’s a more specific example of how good of a friend she has been to me. In 2016, I had another ovarian cyst rupturing episode when my parents were in Ireland and my sister in Ecuador. She had been on Nantucket when it happened and couldn’t get back in time to take me to the ER (shoutout to our friend Tiffany who did that), but as soon as she got back, she relieved Tiffany and spent the night at my house in case I needed anything. I can’t count how many times over the years she has taken one look at me and held out her hand for me to squeeze while I suffered through huge pain episodes.

Sara and I have gone through so much together over the last 7+ years. I’m so grateful that I have her in my life and for everything she has brought to it over the years, and that Rockland Trust wanted to hear about meaningful relationships. They’re so important to living a fulfilling life!

PS – The first picture is from last Christmas!