The Leslie in my Life 😄

We may or may not have lots of friends, but we all have a tribe to count on! Mine is small but what’s important is quality, not quantity! Actually, let me tell you about my friend Leslie today! I will talk about my other tribe friends at a later time because they too deserve recognition!

Our story starts before we even met! In case you didn’t know, I was born in Cuba and came to the US (legally) in 1999. Before we moved to the US, my dad worked with Rogelio (Leslie’s dad) in Cuba in telecommunication in the 70s, but he moved with his family to Michigan a year before we did (in 1998). So my dad talked to him to find out if Michigan was a safe place to move with a family! And one year later we moved to Michigan! The first family we went to visit when we arrived in Michigan was my friend’s Leslie’s family! Not only did we go to the same middle school but since our parents knew each other, we often saw each other outside of school! But my family moved to a different town in Michigan and I lost connection with Leslie for many years 😞. But destiny would have its way, and we met again in 2012!

I was going through a rough time, I was working at a school and they had just laid me off! And I found a job working at a call center helping Medicaid beneficiaries! When I showed up to my job orientation, to my surprise, Leslie was there! We worked together for a while, but we have been in contact ever since! We may not see each other all the time (life gets busy) but we always keep in contact! Plus, we have an ongoing meme war in instagram, every time I see a meme that reminds me of her or our friendship, you know I will be sending it to her, it’s our way of keeping in touch, even from far away!

She was my maid of honor at my wedding! But coincidently, my husband and I got married in India on her birthday, so we will always be connected and reminded of each other on February 18th! We both have been through a lot, but I can’t imagine not having her as my friend, my confidant, my partner in crime, my dance partner, mi mejor amiga, my encouraging friend, many more things!

Well, I saw her yesterday, and it was as if no time had passed! And I like that about our friendship, no matter how long we haven't seen each other, we can pick up where we left off! The first friend I tell any big news is Leslie (good or bad). And she does the same thing! She’s getting married in a year and I couldn’t be happier to be her maid (matron) of honor!

If you have a Leslie in your life, consider yourself lucky! So today, contact your best friend (s) and catch up! Here’s to friendship (and your tribe) 🥂

In 1999, we have come a long way since then (look at those jeans and the hair...talk about fashion gone wrong 🤦🏽‍♀️🤭). But our friendship have not changed no matter how long it has been!