Dear Megan,

Happy Friendaversary!

FIVE years ago today, you and Grace turned up in the middle of a snowstorm in a car stuffed full of books. SO MANY BOOKS. We knew you were staying for a month, but were you maybe just moving in forever? We’d heard stories like that about AirBnb guests who refused to leave. But you seemed really nice, and Grace had really great boots, so we decided to let you in despite the daunting number of boxes.

Haha, just kidding. I was only jealous of all those books.

You existed like ghosts in my house for a couple of weeks before we found out who you were and what was happening in your life. You’ve seen the journal entry I wrote the day the penny finally dropped. I was stunned to have someone like you in my house, in a way that evoked every single protective instinct I have. You were broken and lost and I just wanted to fix it.

(Other readers: you can start down the rabbit hole of Megan’s story by clicking here.)

Of course, that wasn’t my job, nor did I know how to do anything other than continue to offer my hospitality, which turned into friendship in very quick succession. You were enchanting from the beginning. I’ve never had to wonder why the media loved you so much even while you were with Westboro: you were an fascinating conundrum of goodness and evil, all rolled into one. By the time you got to me, you’d parted ways with the evil, but you were still such a baffling package of goodness and lostness. (It’s a word.) Friendly, open, helpful, curious. Full of confounded love.

In the intervening years, as your lovely Instagram post pointed out, we have have explored the Black Hills and the world together. You have introduced us to many wonderful new friends through your insane network of amazing connections. You have made us part of your extended family, and I couldn’t be more grateful or honored.

One of the things I have loved best about being your friend over these past five years is watching you face your challenges. Though some of these challenges have sought to break your heart, I have seen you wrestle with each in turn, using compassion, fearlessness, and wisdom beyond your years to work toward a solution. Many of these challenges have revolved around relationships with other people – everything from your family still at Wesboro, to the people who still blame you for the WBC’s actions, to new relationships you’ve developed outside the church. Some of these challenges have been with your own inner self, as you try to understand who you are in a world where you are finally all your own person.

Watching you face these challenges and persist against those who would tie you to your past identity not only makes me feel so proud of you, but gives me hope that this world can progress beyond its current state of divisiveness and anger. You are living proof that hearts can change and people can be swayed by goodness.

And more important than all that blah-blah world-changing gooey business, you have become my best friend. You were the first person I called the day I finally decided to make my decision to leave my church public. I called you even before I called my parents, not just because I knew your past would help you understand, but because you are the most compassionate listener I know, and my own aching heart knew it could find shelter in your gentleness (followed by good, sturdy advice). Your excitement about every new thing is contagious. Every time I get off the phone with you, I have a list of three new books I MUST read. When I turn into a pile of mushy, wobbling sobs, you know exactly the right way to hug me and murmur “I know, I know, I’m sorry, it’s going to be all right,” on repeat until I’ve run myself out of tears.

Everyone deserves to have someone like you in their life, and I couldn’t be happier or feel more fortunate to have you, in particular. You carry on changing the world for the better, and I’ll be here on the side with pompoms and (non-keto*) cookies to celebrate your successes.

❤ Laura

*When I said your excitement for every new thing is contagious, I didn’t mean your excitement for wild new diets. You can keep those, and I will continue to be a bad influence.

Also: ermagerd! I have so many great photos of us.