9F

I started this blog toward the end of 2008. I was 19, living in Utah with my best friends, and generally just living it up. Had I started this blog sooner, you all would have seen a lot more of that. To say that my friends and I took a ton of pictures back then is an understatement. We chronicled everything and I'm so grateful we did. Now for a little bit about my past.

When I was 18, I graduated high school and high tailed it to Utah. I knew I wanted to go to college, but the whole financial aid thing didn't work out and I had to wait a year (to become a resident) before I could go to school. Despite this, I knew Utah was where I needed to be. Unfortunately, not being able to go to school presented a living situation problem. I wasn't going to be living in the dorms, I knew that, but who would I live with?

My sister went to the University of Utah and put an ad for a roommate on the bulletin board at the Institute. While she was there, she ran into Andrea who was from Colorado and also looking for a roommate. They exchanged numbers and Andrea and I talked on the phone and stalked each other on Facebook. There was no way I was going to live with someone who didn't like punk/emo music, obviously. Haha. After deciding that she looked alright, we decided to room together. We still needed a third roommate though.

Me and Andrea pulling the typical "College Girl" faces.

Dixie saw my sister's posting on the bulletin board and called me. I remember that she used the word "Groovy," which I love. She was the perfect fit and I loved her immediately. Andrea and I agreed and soon we began apartment hunting.

Me and Dix being girls.

Lois Lane, Barbie, and Minnie Mouse (the original roomies) at our Super Pumpkin Palooza Extravaganza.

We found a big two bedroom in a rundown apartment complex that I don't even remember the name of. My best friend, Robyn also moved to Utah at the same time as me. She fit right in with my new roommates as did Dixie's high school friend, Natalie. The five of us began calling ourselves the "9F Crew" (our apartment number was 9F). Eventually our crew grew to include our guy friends Austin, Bryan and Kelly too. We were like our own little family.

Nat, Robby, and me

Left to Right: Robyn, Dixie, Kelly (Kelso), Austin (Fabio), and me

Bryan (BryBry) and Kelly (Kelso)

We had parties, movie marathons on my blow up mattress in the living room, late night escapades to the Belgian Waffle, and best of all, we celebrated Christmas as friends, what we deemed "Friendsmas."

Friendsmas at 9F! Left to right: Dixie, Andrea, Me, Robyn, and Natalie

We love each other.

Wow. Are you still with me? Congratulations if you are. Haha. Anyways, after some time we all began growing apart. Some of us got married, some had babies, some moved far away, and some started successful careers.

Robyn came to visit this week for her brother's wedding and the old 9F Crew decided to get together. Unfortunately, Natalie is couldn't make it (she's too busy being a glowing newlywed in San Fran), but we still met up.

Getting together felt so right. We all just slipped back into our friendships. We talked about everything and anything. We reminisced and laughed and felt a little sad that those days are gone. We are all happy in our lives, but we are all so grateful for those brief years we had as best friends and soulmates. I know none of us will ever forget those amazing times.

Now for pictures of our reunion!

Robyn and Andrea lookin hot!

Dixie and I rockin our shades at night!

The obligatory group shot. We're just missing Natalie!

And there you have it! Everything you could ever want to know about my best friends! Do any of you have a group of friends that it just feels right to be around, no matter how long it has been?