I'm Bringing bridges Back...

Here's the story of my friends Alex and Justin: They have known each other since the 3rd grade. In the 9th grade, Alex had a huge crush on him...feelings he didn't return for her. Eventually, Alex got over it and ended up becoming incredibly close with him. By the senior year of high school, it was Alex'n'Justin...or Jalex...or Alstin...whatever you prefer...personally, I like Jalex the most. They were unpenitrable. Then, for some reason or another, they were no longer Jalex...or Alstin. Alex would later say it was because Justin started acting like a dick... or if you prefer "deck" (if you don't get that reference, just ignore it). Justin would plea that he just wanted to spend more time with his other friends. He was a pretty popular guy. Graduation passed, summer came and went, and all of a sudden it was the middle of our first semester of our first year of college. I guess it was here when Alex and Justin reconnected. By the time that second semester started, they were back to being Jalex, but in different states.

What caused them to rebuild the bridge that had been burned? Hell if I know. But it is nice to see Jalex again. But what made them realize that there was still something there? Why do we rebuild bridged that we ourselves have already burned?

Then, take my friend Katy and me. We were inseperable from pre-K until 2nd grade when she left the Saint Michael School for Christ the King. Even though CKS was just right across the street from SMS, we grew more and more apart. Sure, we would still have the occasional play-date, but we both found new best friends (honestly, I never could find someone to replace her until the 5th grade). We both changed: she became sporty and earthy, I became girly and preppy. She became Janis Joplin, I became Jessica Simpson (who I hate). I became Elle Woods, she became....someone who's not like Elle Woods. Thank God for college...I think I finally have shaken most of the Jessica Woods out of me. C'mon...do either of those girls know what's going on in sports? Drink beer/hard liquor? Know that "Chicken of the Sea" is, in fact, tuna? Ya, I didn't think so. How do I know that I'm not the prissy little thing I used to be? Katy and I got together over winter break...and talked. Like really talked, like we were friends again. And now? I'm going to visit her at KU in about 3 weeks (well, I'm going to look at the school too), and I could not be more excited!! Looking at us now, we really aren't that different. Sure, she doesn't know what foundation is and, alright, I'm still a little boy-crazy, but there is a lot we can learn from each other. I can learn to chillax, she can learn how to contour properly (no matter how much of the girly-girl I shake, I will NEVER give up my makeup).

This is how I see it: every person is like a city with a ton of bridges and roads and such connecting to other cities. These cities frequently trade with each other, join during wars with other cities, support each other when times are hard. Of course, sometimes cities may go to war and burn the bridges that once connected them. But sometimes, these bridges can be rebuilt and the cities may trade once more.

So, why do we rebuild bridges? So we can get back someone we deeply miss. So we can learn something. But, most importantly, so we can face the hard times together and have someone for support.