A Friendship 20 years in the making

Wyoming is a large state. But Utah and Wyoming together are massive. The western countryside sweeps by the car window side and the landscape changes from rugged mountainside, endless tumbleweed-strewn interstates, and rich red rock. One thing these roads all have in common: horrible road damage. Potholes galore, ragged shoulder drop offs, guard rails that have been hit one too many times and semi-trucks thinking they own the roads. 

Despite all this nonsense, the wild wild west is truly spectacular. And it’s made even more special because I get to see it with one of my best and truest friends- Dani. Now Dani and I have been friends for almost 20 years. We met in high school in a home-ec class. We’ve been roommates, long-distance friends, and hometown friends ever since. 

The key to lasting friendships, in my experienced opinion, is effort, laughter, and the ability to fart in front of each other. Yes, this is the key recipe to making lasting friendships. We’ve also gotten into the habit of taking yearly vacations with one another. And touring the national parks throughout Utah is our current expedition. 

Dani and I aren’t perfect when it comes to vacation planning. But we’re pretty good at adapting or laughing it off. For instance, for this trip we decided that in order to get the full road-trip experience, camping was the way to go. Are we both a little high maintenance? Perhaps. Rookies when it comes to camp set up? Um, yes. But that’s what YouTube is for right? Besides, we did a practice run-through with our tent before we set out on our journey. Did both of our mattresses fit once we actually got to our real campsite? Well, no, but that’s beside the point. We made do and Dani slept in the back of the car. Car camping is all the rage right now anyway.

The point is when you really want to do something then you should just try. Will it be perfect? Probably not even close. Will it be worth it? Well, I will let you know as soon as we’re back in our hometown. I can tell you now, making these memories, ones that we might cry over now, but laugh over later, will be so worth it in the end. God created this beautiful world for us. Thank Him daily and take full advantage of the wonder and awe with your friends and family. You’ll never regret it.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” Matthew 16:26