The best invention in the history of the world is Skype

If this blog is about beauty, it's only fitting I write about the most beautiful person I know.

Tashia and I met on a social media site for incoming Mizzou freshmen "way back" in 2009. She recognized me on move-in day as I was walking to the bathroom, which was right across from her dorm room, and the rest really is history. 

I don't want to say we've been inseparable ever since, because the world has cruelly kept us apart for more than two years, and I guess, technically, we've survived, but it's the sort of survival I imagine when I think of being stranded on a deserted island -- sad and pathetic and maniacal at times.

Don't tell me I'm exaggerating. I'm not.

Thankfully, I met my best friend in the 21st century, and that means that even though we live about 700 miles apart (I Mapquested it), we can almost interact as if we still live down the hall from each other.

We Skyped for two and a half hours yesterday. It felt like 10 minutes, even though we blew through dozens of topics -- absurdly high rent, a former weird (read: creepy) boss, Kiera Knightley's boobs, boys with questionable fashion sense, clearance Halloween goodies.

It was like nothing had changed. That's always surprised me with Tashia: No matter how long it's been since we've seen each other or had a good talk -- whether it was a week over Thanksgiving Break or months on end when neither of us could afford the money/time off work for a plane ticket -- it still feels like she lives a few doors down in Johnson Hall, or on the other side of the room in Hudson, or a flight of stairs above me in the Ash Hole, or four steps away in the Olive Jar. 

And that's how I know she's my best friend.

In fact, I think we're going to be those kinds of best friends who do everything together for the rest of forever. Have a joint wedding, be pregnant at the same time, have our kids grow up to be best friends, retire to the same tropical location... 

Don't tell me I'm exaggerating. I'm not.

 That time we went to an 80s party together.

 That time we were each others' Valentines.

 That time we went to a Jersey Shore party.

 That time we won a trip to San Francisco.

 That time went to a barbecue looking freakishly similar.

 That time we had "Labor Day in the Sticks."

 That time we went to a primary colors party.

 That time she proved she could give me a piggy back ride.

 That time this happened.

 That time we were walruses (and, again, each others' Valentines).

 That time we spent a whole evening taking selfies.

 That time I helped her transform into Ke$ha (Ta$hia) for Halloween.

 That time I went with her to her American Idol audition.

 That time we got baptized together.

 That time we went to South Padre Island for spring break.

 That time she helped me move to New Mexico.

That time she visited me in Santa Fe.

To those times and many more to come.