Frontier Woman

If you're looking for another blog to read, read this one http://stephmarie1125.blogspot.com/ 

Do you remember a long time ago when I said I had news about my Bull City Crew? This is that story.

On October 2nd I said bon voyage to one of my best friends. Stephanie (aka Step) and I were at the Mebane Outlet Mall and instead of having a tearful and rather public melt down we opted (really Step led because I almost had the teary meltdown) for the band-aid approach: a few parting words, a shorter-than-I-really-wanted hug, and then walking in opposite directions. How did we get here? Let me back up. Because this is not a sad story, rather a fantastic one about growth and bravery. 

The first time I met Stephanie I was around 10 years old. I was part of a local rec basketball team. We had practice in the gymnasium of my elementary school. Our assistant coach was this really tall lanky guy with glasses. He had a daughter who was 6 feet tall (okay slight exaggeration). He had a daughter who was much taller than I was and if you weren't careful she would knock your shot down before it had a chance to enjoy being out of your hands and on its way to the goal. That girl was Stephanie.

I don't remember much else about Step during our shared time at Southwest Elementary or that rec basketball team. Step and I met again when I was in 7th grade. She was a year older than me and this time she really was 6 feet tall. Step went to my rival school and was one of the most threatening shot blockers in the conference. The only thing that stopped her from being lethal was her propensity to get in foul trouble. Luckily our teams only met twice a year. Even better for me, when I was an all-star 8th grader Step had disappeared to some high school and I could shine!

It's never easy being a freshman and interacting with upperclassmen. I'm generally a well liked person and I don't cause much trouble. However, you don't make it to varsity as a post player without learning where you really stand in the world from the upperclassmen. Step let me know pretty early on that she wasn't going to be easy on me. (Disclaimer Stephanie is not a bully, but I do like to remind her once every few months about those early years on the basketball court).

So now you're probably wondering what my point is and when I decided to start calling Step my friend. Basketball alone might have done it, eventually, but at Jordan High School the great equalizer among the masses was our award winning band! Our band had late rehearsals, morning rehearsals, traveling competitions, and hours upon hours of marching band practice. By my sophomore year everything was copacetic (or should I say harmonious, hehe). Step has always been one of those people that I knew I could count on to have my back on and off the court. She's a person of actions not just words.

You can see how much she means to me because at this point in my own blog I've managed to tell you nothing about her move to Alaska (which was my original point) and everything about "the story of us". So I'll continue with the story of Adwoa and Step and make you read Step's blog for the story about the big move.

When I moved from Winston-Salem to Carrboro one of the things that I knew God had ordained was the opportunity to connect with my hometown friends. I'd been in W-S for 5 years and while I'd kept in touch with people it wasn't the same. There had been a couple road trips down to Charleston but I was just excited to be able to drive to Step's house and hang out. One of our favorite past times is "makin it a Blockbusta night" (thanks Duffy). During the past year I have been reminded of how much I treasure our friendship. Step is always teaching me new things and encouraging me to experience life be immersing myself in it. She doesn't push me over my limit but she'll get me right up to the edge and I love that about her. Stephanie has always been open and honest with me in a way that let's me be there for her. I don't have to read her mind because she speaks candidly and in-turn I feel comfortable telling her what I'm thinking. I think all judgmentalism went out the window of the high school gymnasium when we were running team suicides an hour after practice was supposed to be over. The need to survive makes you trust people quickly.

When I found my faith and accepted Christ in college, Step didn't ostracize me. I don't know if she knows but I will never be able to relay how much that meant to me.

So when Step told me that she was moving to Alaska, I didn't want to believe her. When she told me why she was moving to Alaska, I loved her for it. She knows first hand that life can throw some real wrenches in your plans so there is no point sitting around trying to manipulate real life into a perfect little world. You learn by living and by being willing to make mistakes.

I miss Step a lot but I know she's doing this for her and I support Step for her courage, strength, and honesty.

Read about Stephanie's story for yourself on her blog (I helped her set it up so it's pretty awesome) http://stephmarie1125.blogspot.com/2011/11/step-by-step-day-by-day.html

The best is yet to come,
~Adwoa

Happy Birthday Step!