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Jenna Wolfe: Celebrate Best Friends Day!

Posted: Monday, June 08, 2009 12:19 PM by Jen Brown
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From Jenna Wolfe
 
Today is Best Friends Day and while I’m not 7 (I’m...well... considerably older than that), I still  honor and respect the gods of friendship who declared this a national (semi-celebrated) holiday. So in honor of BFF day, this morning I interviewed psychologist Robi Ludwig about the health benefits of having a BFF, a best friend forever.

I honestly can't think of a better remedy for pain, heartbreak, loss, anguish...or a better sounding board for anger, jealousy, ire, fury....or a better cheerleader for happiness, success, love, and luck than a best friend. My best friend is Marni. Why? Well, do you have a couple hours?


 
She is my diary and my therapist all wrapped up in one. She is my cheerleader and my fan club when I’m on top of the world, but she’s also my Tylenol and my Ben and Jerry’s when I’m not. Every big decision goes THROUGH her. Every little opinion gets opined BY her. Every joke gets tested ON her. And every bit of my unconditional support goes TO her.
 
She sat in front of me in homeroom freshman year of high school waaaaay baaaaack wheeeeen. Her initials were MAW, mine were JAW, and at the time, that was enough in common to solidify a lifelong friendship. But wait, there's more. We weren’t the most popular kids in the class (putting it mildly) but together we created our own “cool” and even though I wore braces and unmatched clothes, sported frizzy hair and pimples, I touted to the world that I’d make it to the TODAY Show one day. Everyone heard my vow, but only Marni listened. She was the only one who believed in me. I never forgot that. That and a few viewings of "Beaches," and we were bonded for the long haul.
 
Needless to say we have run the gamut of experiences. We have seen each other through the candy and poison of life, triumphs and failures and everythings in between. I was there for her when she broke up with Joshua; she was there for me when I broke up with “fill in the blank” (too many to mention). I was there for her when she met her now-husband Larry, she was there for me when I got my job here at TODAY. She is my cheering section when life is good and my cushion when life is bad. Together we have laughed till we cried and cried till we laughed.
 
Over the years, our paths have taken us in a million different directions. Days have often turned into weeks between visits, but the calls beget texts beget e-mails beget bbm’s beget facebook posts so that no matter what, we’re always connected.  
 
Marni had her second child a few months ago, solidifying her place in adulthood. I have this amazing gig that takes me all around the world. Our lives couldn’t be more different, and yet no matter how much time we spend apart, it never takes more than a few minutes back together to recapture the innocent chemistry of two best friends who find everything funny and nothing insurmountable.  
 
 

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Comments

Thank you, this is a beautiful reminder of my best friend Sherri and how we dreamed traveling the world while in high school in Bryan TX.  Not only did we, but we now both live on the UWS in NYC.  She led the way with having children and building a family, and when I was pregnant with my first she said "wouldn't it be cool if I had one too that we could raise together," so soon after Asher was born along came Jade.  Future best friends, I think yes.

Beth Schoenfeldt, NY, NY (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 12:48 PM)

Thank you, this is a beautiful reminder of my best friend Sherri and how we dreamed traveling the world while in high school in Bryan TX.  Not only did we achieve our dream, but we now both live on the UWS in NYC.  She led the way with having children and building a family, and when I was pregnant with my first she said "wouldn't it be cool if I had one too that we could raise together." Soon after Asher was born along came Jade, future best friends, I think yes.

Beth Schoenfeldt, NY, NY (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 12:49 PM)

This is so true..I love my BFF..my one an only and best Therapist through good and bad..
thanks

Uli Saenz (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 3:25 PM)

Thanks, Jenna for blogging and airing the story of your BF.  I'm still BF with Marge who I met in grade school.  She taught me how to play the ukulele, we were competitors, sang in a girls' trio, roommates in college and stood up for each other when we married.  I'll be staying with her and her husband when I go back to MI for our 50th high school reunion with my husband this month.

Joan, Palmyra, VA (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 3:41 PM)

I wish I had known it was Best Friends Day, I would have called mine. Your comments about Marni were very moving, I think she is very lucky.

Debbie Henke, Pratt, KS (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 5:07 PM)

I was excited to see best friends (or bffs) being honored today because my best friend of 20 years and I are celebrating our 20th 'frienaversary' in two weeks! It all started when our 5th grade teacher mistakenly sat us next to each other in homeroom. We got in a lot of trouble for talking and laughing. Did Ms. Bunn know what she was setting in motion? Did she sit us together because she saw our compatibility? Whatever her reason, her matchmaking has led to one of the most enriching relationships in both of our lives. Thanks, Ms. Bunn!

Hilary, Berkeley, California (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 5:09 PM)

I have known my best friend, Chris, my whole life.  Our friendship is spanning five generations, from our grandmothers to our grandchildren.  She tells the best stories, laughs the hardest, and always has insightful advice.  She has always been there for me... to share laughs and tears. When we were little girls we played monopoly, and now we watch our grandchildren play together.  Last year we celebrated our common heritage with a trip to Ireland.  What a blessing it is to have a lifelong friend!

Judy Schutter, Lombard, IL (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 5:12 PM)

Hi Jenna!  I was so happy I found your story here since I saw the teaser on the Today Show this morning as I was on my way out so I missed the segment.  I totally agree with you and your sentiments on all that a best friend is for us and the health benefits, both physically and certainly, emotionally!  My best childhood friend, having grown up in Ga., is in Atlaanta. There is nothing that replaces those deep friendships.  I went in the fall to visit and over a big ol' glass of "sweet tea",  we sat for hours which felt like minutes, as one subject ran into another. I said my goodbyes and left her with a token of something representing me and our friendship, to keep us connected since we live so far apart from one another- The Friendship Stone. We hugged as she held her stone saying she will keep it with her in her purse so I will always be with her.  I love my girl, as we say down south :)!

Thank you for bringing me back to those sweet memories Jenna!

Jill Raff, New York, NY (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 5:13 PM)

Jenna-
I'm sending your blog to my BFF immediately.  We met in 7th grade and now we're in our mid-30s. Your relationship with your BFF is eerily similar to the one I share with mine.

BTW, you are so fabulous on The Today Show!  I told my husband when you were in Philly that you were my favorite.  You're so real and full of personality.

   

Meredith, Wilmington, DE (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 6:30 PM)

Hi. Well I am Sherri, the best friend of Beth who also commented earlier. When I was reading this (granted Beth sent it to me)I kept thinking of her and our 30 year friendship. Unbelievable, and truly priceless. She's more than a best friend, she's a sister. Thanks for reminding us.

Sherri Savad (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 10:35 PM)

Jenna I truly enjoyed the story about your bff.  There are few as lucky as you and I to have such friends.  I have had my best friend Loyce since we were 9 years old and we are 53 now. We have been through it all, growing up together on a cove in the south, getting married, having our children, deaths of her parents and my husband whom she had known since we were 5.  Now we are sharing our stories about our grandchildren.  We still talk almost every day and we enjoy "Friday night date night" together with our husbands weekly. Not many people can boast of such a friendship as this. Stay close to yours.

Sherry, Tennessee (Sent Monday, June 08, 2009 11:07 PM)



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