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I'm very lucky that I have many close friends....people who have come in to my life at different points and because of connection, fate, love, respect, whatever it might be, have remained the tried and true I can call anytime, no matter how long it’s been, and pick up right where we left off.  As an only child, my friends are the brothers and sisters I never had...they are those family members I've been lucky enough to choose (and how lucky they chose me too!).

But there is one friend, confidant, "sister" who knows me better than all the rest.  Her name is Emily, and in honor of National Best Friend Day, I’d like to share our friendship with all of you.

Emily and I met in the third grade.  Our Dads took classes together at Pepperdine University, our Moms were both teachers, and we just hit it off.  We'd hang out at each other’s homes, reenacting the latest episode of Charlie's Angels (I was ALWAYS Sabrina, but really wanted to be Kelly!  Emily was always Kris or Jill).  We'd become so engrossed in Atari "Maze Craze" that our screaming during an intense game session prompted her neighbors to call to see if we were okay or being attacked!  We loved to make Shrinky Dinks, we loved the same books, and I can't even begin to count to number of chocolate chip cookie batches we've made together over the years.

Our friendship had its silly ups and downs, but we both knew we could always count on the other.  We became even closer in high school....and added our friends Kristen and Karen to the mix.  For most of our high school years, the 4 of us were the 4 musketeers...we spent all of our free time together....we compared notes on boys, talked about the pressures of school, played sports together, had lunch together EVERY DAY.

I love these gals....I look back on high school with such fondness because of our times together.  We were happy....it was a wonderful time.

When Emily and I headed off to college, I worried that our friendship would change.  I was at the University of Missouri, she was at Columbia University in NYC.  But phone calls, care packages and Christmas and summer breaks back in California kept our friendship strong.

After college, we both moved again, Emily to San Francisco and me to Indiana.  We'd talk as often as we could, and would try to get together whenever time and money would allow. Despite the time difference, she was always willing to take my calls at all hours of the day or night when I needed counsel on my career, needed to cry over a boyfriend breakup, or just needed to rant about something.  She was never too busy...and always knew the right thing to say.

No matter how long it had been since we'd last seen each other, it always felt like yesterday when we'd get back together....here we are at our 10 year high school reunion.

and reunited with Kristen and Karen for Kristen's wedding in 1997.

Emily's husband attended Harvard Business School, so I was so happy when I was in PA and she was in Boston.  She came to visit me in my little apartment here....

And I would fly up to Boston to hang out with her too.

I was honored to be in her wedding....it was a wonderful day!  My parents were there celebrating with Emily's parents...it is a special memory of mine.

And of course, Emily was there for my wedding too...she was my maid of honor.  On this day, in 2003, we had already been friends for more than 25 years. 

I couldn't imagine this day without her.

I'm so lucky that our paths crossed all of those years ago.  Emily is not just my friend...she is a woman I greatly admire. She is smart, savvy, creative....and measured. (in great contrast to my sometimes impulsive behavior!).  She is thoughtful and caring.  I admire her as a wife and mom...she always has incredible insight into parenting and creative opportunities for her children.  She is patient....and she’s a great listener....I mean, you'd have to be with me, the chatterbox, on the other end of the phone.  But she really HEARS what I'm saying...she knows me.  I think that's a luxury you find in a childhood friend.  She's known me since the beginning....before I was a journalist, a television personality, a wife, a mom, or anything else.  She knows ME.  She'll never know the comfort I take in having someone in my life like that.

And perhaps my greatest joy is that my children know her now too.  She makes it a point to spend one on one time with them when we are together.  What a gift.

So, here we are today...this was taken a few months ago when Emily was in town.  We've known each other for nearly 40 years....and she's still one of my most favorite people in the world.  Happy National Best Friend Day, Emily!  Thanks for always being there for this stressed out, manic, sometimes grumpy gal....and thanks for always laughing at my jokes.  xoxox  JB