ELDER HARRIS

college is intangible until you're actually in it. growing up you always imagine what it will be like- all of the things you'll get to see and do. you imagine the things that you'll study, the sports you'll play, and the bed time that doesn't exist. but, by far the most important thing to imagine growing up is rooming with your best friend. you've played in the sandbox together. you've scraped your knees together. you've gone on adventures to mars together and saved each other multiple times from tall monsters in the amazon rain forest. you've sat next to each other at lunch and traded snacks when you got sick of chocolate pudding day after day. you've gone to football games, ate steak, lifted weights, and become men with each other. by definition, you are best friends. so naturally, when it's time to go off to college, you make plans to room with each other. because that's what best friends do.

Zach and i never had that. we are best friends, not by the previous definition, but by one absolutely, positively, totally, entirely, fully and wholly rock solid semester with each other. and that beats scraped knees and steak any day. we've known each other for a few years, but it wasn't until this last year that we became great friends. it all started on the basketball court. when my family moved to utah almost seven years ago my dad wanted me to get into a basketball league so i could make some new friends. Zach and i ended up on the same team.

i love that picture! what a chump. those are some of my favorite guys. moonbeam, hutch, dylan, vp, and the zachs. we were both still in elementary school at the time, so we didn't really know each other. and then we were in different jr. high schools and didn't know each other at all. it wasn't until high school that we met again. we both remembered each other, but it was like meeting an awkward third cousin that you haven't seen for most of your life. over the three years there and through other friends we started hanging out and tried to start a band once (ha!). we would've been so good... if we actually did band stuff. so when i was walking down the hallway one day in the last half of my senior year, i thought i was going nuts when i kept thinking that i needed to ask Zach if he wanted to room together. Nate and Danny were both going on their missions during the first semester so i didn't really have anyone to room with. that was one of the best decisions i've made. i can't tell you how glad i am to have him as a friend. you'll never meet someone who cares more about you than Zach. spend a day with him and you'll go crazy- the good kind of crazy, the kind that relieves you of any stress or worry. you could often hear us yelling at each other for fun. we'd make creamery runs daily on our scooters. we would sit around singing with his girlfriend chloe (his guitar) for hours. we would wastesomuchtime and facebook bomb people until three in the morning. he's the only other person that's ever written on this blog: exhibit a b c. in fact, he got his own little spot to speak his mind. (you'll be graced by his writing one last time tomorrow). slowly but surely, we became best friends. and best friends we will be for a very, very long time.

i'm going to miss you, Elder Harris. you'll do amazing work in rochester. new york won't know what hit them. i'm glad you're going to be speaking spanish, english can't contain you! it's been so hard not having you here at the phlat for the past few weeks. our room is too clean... ha! we've had some amazing times together and we still have loads more ahead. but right now, we have more important things to do. you're doing exactly what the Lord wants you to do. you are an example to me. now go get 'em! i'll see you in two and a half. you'd better not get married before i get back, i'm going to be your best man whether you like it or not.

you're my best friend. best of luck.

God be with you till we meet again.