Get yourself a Klassi
I met Kassandra Brooke when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. About ten years ago. She’s also ten years younger than me. When we met she had just turned 21. We were at Buffalo Wild Wings. Her husband is my ex-husband’s best friend, and he wanted us to meet her. We weren’t super close at first, and if I’m being honest, my first thought probably was that we would never be friends. I couldn’t have been more wrong. When my marriage and life were at their darkest, she was the first person I told. We were in the middle of a lake paddle boarding and I poured my heart out to her. I accidentally made her go into labor. Kinda. Sorry, Kass.
She has an energy about her that is absolutely vibrant. It’s contagious. She lights up a room. It’s kinda like the way the sunshine feels on a perfect 82 degree day on the perfect beach, with the slightest breeze, in the perfect bikini on a day you’re not bloated. And then she shows up with the perfect margarita, and a shot of 1942. She is funny, kind, smart, humble, strong, resilient, and an absolute smoke show. She is the kind of girl that walks into a party, and you know the fun just started. People are drawn to her. She’s an old soul trapped in a brunette, gorgeous body. But her astounding looks are the least interesting part about her. Her heart, that you can literally feel the second you see her smile, or hear her snort, is the most amazing thing about her. She exudes energy. She is literally the most pure soul I have ever encountered. She has seen and been through some shit, and is nothing but gracious, accepting, loving, and optimistic. She has a passion for life and adventure that I wish I had half of. She feels deeply, and understands more about the world than most. She’s everything that I’m not. Outgoing. Friends with everyone. Loves scooters. Always looks gorgeous. Always going. Always full of energy. Always active. Brave. Thoughtful. Confident. She’s who I want to be when I grow up.
She is the first person I call when I have a wild idea, adventure, or just need a little bit of sunshine in my life. She’s the kind of friend you order Chipotle, drink wine, and watch ‘How To Build A Sex Room’ with on a random Friday night. She’s also the first person I call when I want to go to Vegas and laugh until I cry and can’t breathe in a badass suite in matching pajamas and UGG slippers drinking cheap champagne from a convenience store. She is the keeper and approver (and usually sender) of my hidden folder. She knows every secret. She knows every joke. Our love language is TikTok’s, shotgunning, vapes (sorry dad!), and laying in my bed doing nothing while I try to avoid her touching me. She is my biggest cheerleader, and I value her opinion immensely. She is the type of friend that will talk you through the worst, and celebrate with you at the best, and everything in between. She is literally a Ride or Die. For real, because I almost killed her while she was riding with me. Long story, but it involved a Corvette, a wine glass, and a Peloton ride. From worst to best, mundane to exciting, she is the person I want by my side for every minute of it.
Throughout our friendship, she has become one of those people that just sees my soul. She has seen me at my absolute lowest point in life, stayed by my side as I clawed my way back up, until today, when I am my absolute highest. She has watched me fail, learn, cry, and triumph. She knows my absolute truth, every secret, every story, every joke, every look, and she knows my thoughts before I even say them.
She thought I would never get divorced. She met me and knew me through my weakest, most empty and lowest parts of my life. She knew I was struggling. I walked into our favorite margarita place after I had finally told my ex I wanted a divorce, and she knew I had told him before I even told her. She knew by the way I walked in, and by the way I carried myself. She’s the kind of friend that just knows. She got me through a lot of rough times and I don’t know how I would have gotten through without her. We say that our friendship was the best thing to come from my marriage. There are a lot of good things things that came from it, but our friendship is definitely one of the best.
Kass, thank you. For being my light. For being everything in a friend I never knew I needed. Thank you for always being by my side. Thank you for making my life an adventure. Thank you for being the bad influence I always need. Thank you for seeing and loving me for exactly who I am. Thank you for having sleepovers with me. Thank you for loving my babies like your own. Thank you for letting me love your boys, and letting me feed them dessert until they puke. From the bottom of my heart, I love you, I am thankful for you, and I am beyond blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for being you.
I guess the moral of this story is, get yourself a bestie or two who will be by your side through the ugliest parts of life and the best parts of life. One that vows to pour some Truly into your ashes when you die, and then prop her phone up on your urn in the microwave and shotgun a Truly in your honor. With Naomi, of course. If it’s not that kinda friendship, then I don’t want it. Get yourself a Kassi. But you can’t have mine!
