Surprise visit.

[Lady Aura]

[CENTER][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]Yesterday, my best friend that I've known since second grade paid me a surprise visit yesterday. I haven't seen her since November of 2006, because she moved to California.

When I opened the door and saw her, I literally looked at her and closed the door, and then I started crying.

She changed A LOT. It made me a little sad because she isn't so innocent-looking anymore. But it was nice to see her. She ended up spending the night at my house, and we listened to my .hack//ROOTS soundtrack almost all night.

Still, I wished she didn't make the big changes. I miss the way she, and our friendship, used to be.[/FONT][/CENTER]

[Aberinkula]

[COLOR="DarkSlateGray"][SIZE="1"]People change, it's just natural. I mean, my best friend changed right before my eyes after 6th grade. Sometimes you might not like the change, but you get used to it. It's just something that happens, you'll change to eventually. Who knows, maybe you've changed a bit in her eyes too.

What really matters is that you guys are still friends and that's the most important thing. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Lady Aura]

[quote name='Aberinkula'][COLOR="DarkSlateGray"][SIZE="1"]
What really matters is that you guys are still friends and that's the most important thing. [/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[CENTER][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]Yeah. She knows that I get those "you're forgetting me" moments, so she tends to make sure to call or message me a lot when that happens.

I think I'm the kind of person that is scared of change.[/FONT][/CENTER]

[Endrance]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"]"Some have held that change is a consistent process, and rendered so by the existence of time. Others have held that the only way to make sense of change is as an inconsistency."

Life isnt a consistency, therefore we all including you must learn to accept and go with the flow. And i know we have all heard this before but old friends feelings [B]dont[/B] change no matter what the inconsistency of life has brought about us. If you are true friends, you shouldent let such things get in the way of your friendship. Her efforts to keep in touch with you have proven that you are true friends, and so i can confidently say; Dont worry.[/COLOR]

[Korey]

[FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"]Ah the anxst of teenage lives...

Well, I'm sure it comes as a shock to you, but your friend is still your friend regardless of how they may have "changed". I don't know if you mean in the physical sense (different clothing style, hair, etc.) or the emotional sense. But a few years away in a different location defiinitely has that effect on people.

I have a good buddy of mine who literally grew up with me. We've been friends since the sixth grade and we even played on the same basketball team in the eighth grade. In ninth grade, we ended up going to differet schools because he moved to a different part of town,but in the tenth grade he transferred to my school and I could tell he had changed a lot. But I didn't think anything of it, because I knew underneath he was still the same kid I used to spend almost all of my summer with playing video games and playing basketball. Just the other day, he stopped by the store where I worked and we chatted it up and it reminded me of those days where we went up and down the neighborhood talking smack and laughing together. No matter how much you and your friends change, the bond you guys have will still be the same.

/nostalgia, lecture[/FONT]

[Aaryanna]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"][FONT="Book Antiqua"][quote name='Lady Aura'][CENTER][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]Still, I wished she didn't make the big changes. I miss the way she, and our friendship, used to be.[/FONT][/CENTER][/QUOTE]Try asking her to tell you how [I]you have changed[/I]. I think you might be surprised to realize that it's not just her. It's unavoidable and life would be pretty boring if we didn't change at all. And since the others covered the rest pretty good, I'll leave it at that. Or in other words, don't let it bother you too much. Change is normal. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[Darren]

I'm sure that to her, you changed as well, but you can't hold it against her. (As I'm sure she won't hold it against you) Anyway, this is somewhat included in your thread, "Growing Up." Change is a part of growing up, and accepting that change is equally as important.

[Lady Aura]

[quote name='Aaryanna'][COLOR="DarkGreen"][FONT="Book Antiqua"]Change is normal. [/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[FONT="Palatino Linotype"][CENTER]You're right. Getting used to it should be normal, too. That makes me... not normal, although I'm trying.[/CENTER][/FONT]

[James]

[quote name='Lady Aura'][FONT="Palatino Linotype"][CENTER]You're right. Getting used to it should be normal, too. That makes me... not normal, although I'm trying.[/CENTER][/FONT][/QUOTE]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Being uncomfortable with change is not unusual, especially when it comes to friends and family. This is [i]especially[/i] true if someone changes for the worst (depending, of course, on how she changed).

I think that it can be difficult when you have very fond memories, as well. I mean, especially if the person you once knew to be "innocent" ends up being the opposite (but I mean in a very serious sense, like drug use or crime or something).

If it's just a cosmetic change or a slight personality change, then I don't think there's too much to worry about.

Anyway, these feelings are definitely normal. But as everyone else has said, you just have to come to terms with the "new friend" and focus on the positives rather than the negatives. No matter how she's changed, she is still fundamentally the same person you knew before. Looking for positives is far more important than worrying about the negatives.[/font]

[chibi-master]

At least your friend could visit you! >< I was begging my parents to let me visit the place we moved from a couple years ago! Yesterday, my dad said it was too long and too expensive a trip! I'm still thinking about how I'm going to tell my boyfriend (he lives in the place I wanted to visit) this! :animecry: I haven't seen him since summer of '06! But I'm lucky because we e-mail, call and send pictures to each other! So I guess I can't complain too much...:animesigh

[Lady Aura]

[quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]Being uncomfortable with change is not unusual, especially when it comes to friends and family. This is [i]especially[/i] true if someone changes for the worst (depending, of course, on how she changed).[/font][/QUOTE]

[CENTER][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]I wouldn't say she changed for the worst. She seems happy with it, and she isn't doing drugs or anything like that.

It's just like... Um, how do I explain this...?
I opened the door, and thought in my mind, "Oh my gosh! Your hair! Your voice is prettier! You're... wearing make-up now... Oh wow..."[/FONT][/CENTER]

[Aaryanna_Mom]

It sounds like you're really sad about your own youth slipping away. You're noticing things in your friend that didn't use to occur, like the makeup and such. It's perfectly normal to feel a little uncomfortable or even sad about change.

It's just part of growing up and like my daughter said, look at yourself and you'll find that you've changed too. I'd recommend finding the things you liked about it, like how you enjoyed seeing your friend again. Just as there are sad things about it, there are fun positive things too. ^_~