FaceTime calls, text check-in’s, accompanying me on road trips on the phone, mailing letters — this is how I stayed in touch with my friends from Maryland and New Jersey for four years. We might have saw each other once a year, if that, but somehow we stayed in touch and catch up here and there. If anything LA, made me love them even more than they will know.
A prominent time in my life was when I was super involved with CFC Youth for Christ. I grew up with the organization, became a leader during college, met a majority of my best friends from the ministry, and even gained soft skills from the events and the teamwork building initiatives. This right here, is the magic and spark that led me to where I am today and how I went to Los Angeles last week.
Let’s take a few steps back. It’s a rough day at work and a rough day in general in November. I called my friend Gabby Baniqued and asked if there was any way she could fly down to Florida for a few days and hang around in Jax with me. We had schedule conflicts and couldn’t find times that aligned for us both, so Gabby throws out, “I am going to LA for my birthday with Bella, Matt, Carlos and Vanessa. Why don’t you join with? It will be fun and we are going to just chill.” I knew I did not have enough PTO for all of this, but figured with my work from home flexibility it would be doable. How could I pass up seeing my friends that I only get to see in person once a year or every two years?
We prayed, laughed, cooked, explored, took many photos, shared snacks, shared a home, and shared the memories that I hope sits in everyone’s hearts LOL.
I think what is the most sentimental part of this trip for me is that I got to spend time with my friends in the very same state where I met them four years ago. What goes around comes back around. How we are residents of the east coast but make our way to the west is similar to the journey of how our bonds that stayed alive. These friends watched me finish college, start my career, watch and pick me back up at my lowest points, push me to be better than who I was yesterday, make me laugh for five hours straight, and continue to hold a special place in my heart. After all these years, there is no one else I’d rather do laundry with a broken dryer, get boba with, battle aggressive ants, and play Switch all night until knocking out. Thank you for being my guardian angels on earth. I miss you all, already. Until next time.
See below the bloopers and fun photos of us in San Diego in 2019. Don’t we still look the same?
Jamie Vergara 