Jack and Jill and the Story of 30 Years of Friendship

Let’s talk about friendships as adults. Some friends you meet later in life are absolutely incredible, while others can be the complete opposite. I feel so grateful to say that in the last few years I have met some truly beautiful friends who align with my values. I choose to surround myself with people who are positive, who lift others up, and who genuinely want to create a meaningful impact on themselves and those around them.

One thing I have that I know not everyone is fortunate to experience is a best friend since Grade 2.

I was born and raised in Aylmer, Ontario, where I attended a small Catholic elementary school called Assumption. In Grade 2, while attending my First Communion classes, I met Jillian. She went to a different school at the time but received her Communion alongside the Assumption students. I always remembered her, and in Grade 4 she transferred to Assumption from the local public school. From that moment on, we became instant friends.

Now, our story has not always been perfect, to say the least. In elementary school we went through some classic mean girl moments that so many kids experience. In high school, we actually started off not being friends. Do we remember why? Not really. It was probably something silly like liking the same boy or a he said she said situation. Just typical kid stuff.

But by Grade 11, everything changed. Jillian and I became closer than ever. Honestly, I do not think I would have made it through high school without her. She was incredibly book smart, while I had to work really hard just to maintain an average B minus. School did not always come easily to me, but Jillian helped me focus and stay on track when I needed it most.

And did we have fun? Oh yes, we absolutely did.

We had our ups and downs through our younger adult years as well. I met my husband Dave, who was friends with Joel. I introduced Jillian to Joel, and now we are both happily married to those same guys, who are still great friends to this day.

Now at 37, we are both married with children of our own. We have found our way back to each other again. Not that we ever stopped being friends, but life happens when you are raising kids and working full time. As adults, we have created so many beautiful memories together with our families. Game nights, laughter, yoga retreats, and of course, plenty of time spent reminiscing.

One thing we both agree on is that we were absolutely wild teenagers. We made questionable choices and did things that still make us shake our heads. We are honestly so grateful that social media was not what it is today, because there are definitely moments that did not need to be documented. From late nights and too much drinking to sneaking out and spending time with random people, it is a wonder we made it through those years. And now, as parents, we can only hope our children make slightly better decisions than we did.

But there is something truly beautiful in the reminiscing. We uncover old memories that bring endless laughter and take us down the most unexpected rabbit holes. Those moments are something I will always treasure.

Jillian and I share something that not everyone gets to experience. Nearly 30 years of friendship. It is something that feels sacred, natural, and completely unforced. I know without a doubt that she always has my back. I know that if I leave a room, she will be speaking kindly about me and cheering me on. I only hope she knows that I do the same for her, always.

Thirty years of friendship is something truly special. I can only hope the next thirty bring even more laughter, memories, and adventures.

Thank you, Jillian, for being my lifelong person.

Xo

Jackalynn