Season Finale: 30-Year Reunion, Sand, and Old Memories

Most friendships are built on shared memories, but the true magic? It’s how they survive the storms of life—and how they can be reignited after years apart.
 On this season finale of The Bestie Blend, Jen and her best friend take you on a wild, heartfelt journey back to their high school days, their reunions, and the moments that prove friendship only gets better with time.
They laugh, they cry, and they rediscover a bond that has defied years of distance, heartbreaks, and change. From secret letters full of teenage dreams to unforgettable reunions filled with surprises, everything is a testament: real friendship is timeless and unbreakable.
You’ll discover the unbelievable stories behind their yearbook exchanges, the crazy adventures at their 30-year reunion, and how reconnecting with old friends can completely transform your perspective on love, loyalty, and forgiveness.
This isn’t just about nostalgia—it's about celebrating the resilience of true friendship and how it can heal wounds, rekindle passion, and remind us of who we really are.
Perfect for anyone craving authentic connection, nostalgic soul-searching, or just a good, emotional ride. If you’ve ever lost touch and wondered if it’s too late, this episode will change your mind.
Tune in now and get inspired to cherish those lifelong bonds—and maybe even start a few new ones. Because friendship? It’s the greatest mix of all.
Are you ready to laugh, cry, and believe in friendship again? Hit play—your soul needs this.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome back to the Mesty Blend, the podcast where friendship, laughter, and real life conversations always make the perfect mix.

SPEAKER_01 0:07

We can't believe we've made it to episode 12, our season one finale. What a ride it's been.

SPEAKER_00 0:13

And we figured there was no better way to wrap up our first season than by reliving one unforgettable weekend. Our 30-year class reunion.

SPEAKER_01 0:23

You know you're making great memories when the night somehow ends with your toes in the sand. Standing in the ocean at midnight, wondering whose idea was it to get our feet wet and secretly hoping no one loses a flip-flop. Or falls in the sand. I don't know how I didn't lose my shoes.

SPEAKER_00 0:42

There's just something about laughing with lifelong friends under the stars, listening to the waves, and realizing that even after 30 years, some friendships pick up exactly where they left off.

SPEAKER_01 0:52

Seriously, one morning we both woke up texting each other laughing. At all the moments that reminded us that age is really just a number. At least until we tried getting up the next morning.

SPEAKER_00 1:03

Good lord. I don't think I've laid in bed as long as I did in a really long time that night. Or should say that day. It was great. So, grab your favorite drink, get comfy, and let's reminisce as we wrap up this incredible first season of the Bestie Blend. Let's blend.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Okay. So should we just start talking about the night, the first night? Well, let's give our listeners like a little bit of precursor. Yeah. So we actually did a 30-year reunion weekend, which I have a lot of people going, why? I love it. I thought it was a great idea. So I honestly think people missed out thinking it was gonna not be as fun. And then they I'm guessing regretted not being able to come or making time to come because it was fairly, fairly local. It was within an hour drive. And you had the whole weekend. So first up was we went back to high school. You did, yeah. Driving in those gates. I had such a good experience in high school for me, and it was such an easy place to go where that was my safe place. So I think driving in was like it was like relaxing. I know, I know it's super weird. And I know people are probably going, What? I hated school. But our I think going into our campus, since I didn't go to the tour, but just in general. Well, you've been there. Our campus is so specific. It's like gated. It's like I feel like it's not like a normal high school. And I think it was just it we spent so much time there for those really like important years of our life. And I think it would be super emotional. Like, I am literally the same height I was with graduated high school. I think I've been this height since like sixth grade, which is not very tall. So as we're doing this little tour and going into the cafeteria, all we kept thinking about was pizza because those pizzas were amazing. Oh, they were so good. So good. We walked in, I felt like it was so small. And how is it so much smaller feeling when I'm not any bigger? Okay, maybe weight wise, but height-wise, not any bigger than I was in school. And it just felt like it was so we have an adult brain now. And then we went into that one room where you guys did the drill team auditorium. But it's not an auditorium now. Now it's like a small little theater. It's really, really cool. And we all remembered PE and country line dancing and doing the I you making me do drill team with you. And I was like, I did one day of it. And I was like, no, I'm done. The camp tryout. I did. Yes, you made me do that. Awesome. And of course, the question was is the payphone still there? Was it still there? They removed it. That is like an iconic piece of I see it in my head. Like I know right out right in front of the office doors. Yeah. And the line for the payphone at nutrition, because it was only one. Only one was so long because the boyfriends of most of the girls that didn't have boyfriends over to the school were all calling. Yeah. That's so funny. Mm-hmm. Remember, I had that my pager. Yeah. And I had to always go and make a bonco. My gosh. And then going through A and B hall. It was the same minus the Is it carpet or is it cement? No, it's ah gosh. I think it was like like a tile. Okay. Maybe. And I can't even remember. They finally figured it out so that it wouldn't flood and be all stuck Ian gross. The first thing I said, I was like, where's the carpet? There's no carpet. That's awesome. And then yeah, like the field is beautiful where they did soccer over in the elementary sector. The bottom one, yeah. It's like beautiful. And then they bought property and expanded. They took all those houses that were up against the like that strip of houses on the street that ended at the dead end. Yes. That's where like all the peacocks live. So when they're in elementary school, we would hear the They're gone. That's so crazy. They got rid of them. And then remember the beast? The beast. I hated the beast so bad. So they lost that property, but it was I guess somebody bought that property, but nobody can build on it, but they can't run certain areas of that hill. Oh, that's good to know. So those kids aren't suffering like we did. They don't suffer anymore. Did you see the weight room that I the Yeah, that just pissed me off, actually. I'm like, like, we walk yeah. We walk in and Steph and I are like, wait, this is not fair. It was so nice. I think my my I asked my mom about that and she said that I think that that was done I think it was Chris Dick's family. He was a was it Chris Dick? I can't remember. It was somebody's family.

SPEAKER_02 5:50

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 5:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:51

It was really cool.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

So then after that, we all headed out of campus and down to the hotel for the most part. Yeah, I was I wasn't sure how it was gonna go, you know, having the whole weekend and you know, being there the whole entire time. But I thought one of the coolest things about it was the people that couldn't stay at the hotel. It was just like kind of a revolving door of people who came. So it was like different people almost every night. Yeah, you had of who could come that one night or whatever. So I feel like we got we got the best because we got to meet see everybody. Yeah. Was there anybody particular you were super surprised that came? It was really cool to see Johnny, and it was really cool to see Sean. Who else? I'm telling you, Johnny to me doesn't look like Johnny in high school. If I hadn't followed him on Facebook like all these years or social media, I would have never recognized him. Yes, because he he was such this I can't remember what there's a picture that was posted. I even showed LinkedIn. Which Johnny are we talking about? The little one. Okay. I'm sorry, Johnny. Not the tall one, the little one. Because they both actually looked very depressed. Yes, I agree. Had I not seen tall Johnny, what is it? I don't know. And known him forever. Well, I known him forever and seen and see him all the time. I wouldn't, I wouldn't have recognized him either because he grew into himself. And same with little Johnny. It was I even showed a picture to Larry because somebody posted a picture, I think maybe it was Aaron, yeah, of the two of them at our graduation. And I'm like, it doesn't look this little kid does not look like this. Yeah. And Larry's like, no, it's it's him. I see adult. And I'm like, little Johnny. I don't see it. I think Sean looks exactly the same. Yeah. Like exactly the same. And but I've seen him sporadically throughout the years, too. And who else? It's Josh. When he worked in it, I was like, who's that? I thought that was so awesome. I got to talk with him for a while, and his wife is lovely. I thought she's she's awesome. Everybody's spouse was super cool. It was so cool. I got we got to see Rebecca and her spouse. As we're all talking, when Jen and Jamie got there, which I thought was really hysterical. That was such a good surprise that they were there. You know, we're all talking about the boyfriends that we all like and the crushes that we had. And then you don't think about this when you're in school, but we all dated the same exact people. I think that that was the funniest realization of the whole reunion was how many people dated the same people. It was Dave, Chris. How many dated how many of the same girls? If you're listening, he will be. Yeah, it that was just it cracks me up. I didn't it really was. It was so funny. It was so awesome to see Jennifer. I don't even remember the last time lighting school we saw her. Yeah, I think she's that long. Amazing. I don't think Jamie's seen her in 25 years. Yeah. I was really, really fun to see her. It was awesome. And Jamie's just a kick in the pants. She's amazing. Literally like Girl, are you back from Hawaii yet? Because we've got drinking to do. And belated happy birthday. Oh, yes. That was that was really cool. So that first night, you know, we we're smart. We bring our own drinks. We keep it up in the room, so we don't have to speculate. Not that it mattered, but so you know, as I'm helping everybody set up, I have my little drink. It's just a truly. It's just a truly. Okay, maybe it was the other those the truly. You had the the the ones that were stronger. A little stronger, yeah. Right. And then it was gonna be a late night, so I needed a little coffee, so why not get the Oh you had an espresso martini? I had espresso martinis. See, I didn't have those. Only one, I think. Then we started drinking dirty martinis. Oh, and then holy moly. I couldn't even tell you how many I had because I don't remember either. I just remember we never had an empty glass. No, and well that kid literally kept on bringing us new glasses. Well, that's true. But I remember thinking, okay, that went down way too. Like I would take a gulp and it would be gone. But see, that's the cool thing about Jodi Martinis, is they did so many of them that were like super filthy. So basically we were drinking like electrolytes. A lot of salt. A lot of salt. Didn't feel like it towards the end of the night. Yeah, I don't remember. And then I think the the night kind of ended and slowed down, and everybody, those people who had to leave, because I know people had to get up at night, go to work. And we kind of were walking everybody out. I don't know. We ended up outside. Well, because we were at the piano bar. That happened. That happened before. Worst piano dueling piano people I've ever had. Who doesn't know goodbye Earl? It's a seriously. It's a people doesn't know that. It's okay. We're gonna we're gonna open up our own old school Hell at the Moon at some point. And I mean we're gonna do it ourselves. We're made it, we're made of money, so they just pay him to to learn it. How did we even I think they were closing? Yeah, and then we went outside, and then we you and I just decided, I guess, that we were way down to the sand. Yeah, and this was gotta be 11:30. At least, yeah. And so we walked down to the sand, and of course I had to take my shoes off because who's gonna walk in ten of shoes? No people. Yeah, who's gonna walk in tennis shoes in the sand and get sand in your shoe? Yes, it's true. So the water wasn't it wasn't super freezing. No, it wasn't super cold, but it wasn't like big waves. So the the waves broke so far out. Very far out. So I thought you were gonna go swimming. No, so I had I had my hand, my I was holding on to my shoes and my phone. And I was And my t-shirt. And your well, not I don't think I I didn't have your t-shirt yet, did I? I don't know how we even got it. And then I walked down to the water and I just remember Larry going, Don't go in, don't go in. And then I'm like, really? Watch me. Larry was just more like, no, she can't, no, no, no. But I wasn't going in, like I barely got water over my ankles. That's how like much I was getting in the water. He was like, if she goes in, I'm gonna have to go in and save her. And I was just laughing and filming the whole entire time. And then somehow we did a photo shoot because I was folding this particular shirt that had been dumped in the water and sand. Why? So it's a little bit sand. I have no clue. So like I remember most of the night, but there are little pieces that I can't quite remember. It's the important ones that you remembered. And you know what? Having no memory of not the good memory of that one was even more fun. So poor Larry dealing with the two drunk girls. So then somehow I was like, okay, so I'm gonna go back up to the room because we were tired. Oh my gosh. You know, there's a little bit of a climb on these the sand, you know, it's a little bit. There's a whole staircase. We no, this is the one before the staircase. Oh, yes. You had to walk up the stairs either. I do remember that now. Because his comment the next day was, wow, you got down those a lot faster last night. I think when we were like climbing back up the sand, I lost my balance literally. And and okay, I didn't want to get sand in my shoes, so I'm gonna get it in my hair now. So I fall back, and then I'm trying not to pee my pants. We were laughing so hard. Nancy falls. I'm sorry, Nancy Ann. She falls, she's dying. Poor Larry's gotta be going, what in the world? I can only imagine people up on the boardwalk walking by. If anyone wasn't up there at any time, what we would have looked like. Well, then I couldn't get back up. Hey, if anyone has video of this, I don't think I want to see it. One other thing that happened that I thought was so cool was that Mrs. Hagbert came to Friday night. And and her husband came. And we have the same tattoo. That was so fun. We have the same tattoo. Oh, do you really? I just got to talk to her about nails, which I've been wanting to talk to since June high. She was my inspiration for having long fake nails. I loved it. It was hysterical. She was that was awesome. Yeah, who else? Ben Ben came on um Friday night. Oh yeah, he was there Friday night. Everyone go to his Thai restaurant. They have Chao Mea. He did say that. And yeah, so anyways, the sand part, we somehow made it back up to the hotel. And went to sleep. And we went to sleep, and I did not want to get up in the morning. But I woke up to feeling sand in the bed, and I was like, what the freaking heck is there sand in the bed for? Why is there sand in the bed? I had it everywhere. It was everywhere. And then I literally am thinking it in my head, how did I get so much sand in the bed? And I get a text from you, and you're like, I'm literally dying laughing.

SPEAKER_02 14:31

There's so much sand.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

I don't remember like getting into the room. Larry threw me in the shower because I had sand everywhere. And I was in the shower holding that bar because I didn't want to fall, because I didn't have my balance. And I'm dying of laughter. Like I can stop laughing. We had such a great time. Mine was just for my feet. I guess I decided not to take the sand off my feet. But you know what? Get into bed. It just got right into bed. You need to look off the clothes, get into bed. Right. Yeah, there was just so much so much sand in our food before the next night. Yeah, but then it kind of like I didn't really want to. That was it. I'm never drinking again. I mean, I didn't get sick. I didn't throw up. I didn't have Yeah, we didn't I didn't have a hangover. I didn't get sick. I felt great. I I felt just like really like excited. Like Well then it was night number two. So yeah, that's when uh that's when Sean came. Who Nalafer came? Rosie came. Yeah, Nalaf. Yeah, all the like all of a sudden so many Dawn was there with her boyfriend. Dan was there with his wife. Yeah. Who else was there? Travis was there.

SPEAKER_02 15:41

Travis. Rachel. I'm trying to think of seating.

SPEAKER_01 15:46

Jamie and Jennifer were there. Aaron was there. And Dawn. Dawn. Her boyfriend? Rachel is hysterical. Stephanie. Hero. Her boyfriend hero is was literally the life of the weekend, which is so funny because he didn't even go to school with us. He no, he was so funny. He made everyone laugh. He was so entertaining. He was hysterical. I loved it. And then well Stephanie. Stephanie and Jeremy really. Oh yeah, Stephanie and Jeremy. And then well Josh and his wife. Johnny and his wife. I think that's all right. Missing anybody from that night? And then we all took our pictures and then went back to the bar. You know, it was more of a weekend of just reminiscing, like talking a lot about memories. And none of us, I don't think any of us, especially those of us that went to the reunion, none of us disliked each other at at all. Like I think that as you get older, it's kind of gotten easier. Because I know that high school for some people wasn't like the easiest. And we went to a very small private school.

SPEAKER_02 16:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:47

So we had a small graduating class compared to other schools, I think, in the area. I feel like we're friends with like yeah. I don't know, like 60% of the people still. 100%. And then they're just we're gonna build even better friendships now that we've gotten to see each other in person and and get to know their new lives and stuff. And obviously people have changed, which is so cool. And you find out what people are doing in their life. Yeah. I thought it was just so neat to like, I feel like everyone kind of just moved to different people and got caught up in different pe you know, in their lives and then moved to another one. Oh, Mikey and his wife. Oh, yes, Mikey and his wife came later that night. Mm-hmm. So I remember having this conversation with Sean about the letters.

SPEAKER_02 17:30

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 17:31

And I go, Oh, wait, I have a whole bunch of letters written about you. You do. So I found one that was pretty hysterical in the bag. So there Sean, my friend, if you're listening, which I know you are. We found out actually, I didn't find this. Nance just picked it out of the pile. I was gonna say it was the first one. So the funny thing is, is there's probably a lot more in there, but this was the first one, and we thought it was pretty funny. So let's uh I'll I'll see if you can guess who wrote this. Who wrote this? Dear Jennifer, sorry I couldn't return your call. Hope it wasn't important. The first time you called, I was taking a shower. Second time you called, I was helping my cousin with her homework. So did you talk to Little Rumble? Okay, Sean. Who is Little Rumble? I do not remember who that is and why we have that nickname. What did he say? Did you guys talk about me? What did you guys talk about? Did you talk to Michelle? Did you talk to Sean? Well, right now I'm listening to the radio, listening to my favorite song by Tony Terry. I love the song. I dedicated it to Little Rumble. Who is Little Rumble? I don't know. So what's up with you and Eric? Is he gonna ask you out tomorrow?

SPEAKER_02 18:44

Eric. Who Eric? I don't know what Eric this is.

SPEAKER_01 18:49

I hope so, because I never liked Eric. Sure? This is this is pretty funny.

SPEAKER_02 18:55

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 18:55

You should be happy now. He chose you out of all the girls who like him more than you do. Wait. So he chose me when there's other girls that like him more. Okay. Isn't that cool? I still can't believe that Michelle is acting like this. I've never seen her act like this before. Now it seems like I know the real her.

SPEAKER_00 19:16

I wonder which side Sean's gonna go for. If he goes for Michelle's side, then he that means he still likes Michelle more than he likes me.

SPEAKER_01 19:24

I think he only went out with me because he sorry, Sean, but oh I can't help it. I think he only went out with me because he couldn't get other girls. Sean, you and I both know that's not true. Oh god. I'm sorry, Sean. He was too desperate. But she's so sweet though. I feel bad. Sean, what was he we know that is not true. Okay. But if Sean goes to my side, then I really know he likes me. Well, I just we'll just have to see. If we do break up, I always have Adam. Well, it's a good thing we all have backup boyfriends. Oh good thing. He's so sweet. From the rate of one out of ten, I rate him an eight or nine. Ooh, poor Adam. So she likes him. These girls were all we were all boy crazy. Yeah, but who is Eric? What Eric did I like? I think that that's the only Eric. I never liked Eric. Eric. I never liked him. Sean, you were never desperate, ever. I think every girl likes to find. Wow. I think that is hysterical. These are like treasures that you can never get rid of. No, I don't even want to bury them. They're gonna stay immature. You're gonna reread them every once in a while. We'll pull them out. Totally. No, I want to keep finding more fish. Well, the first time we found them, we were up forever that night at your island, and we just were laughing the whole entire time. You say my island like I live on a beautiful beach. In your kitchen. I know, but it sounded better. On Jennifer's private beach. Well, that we're good. Okay, you're gonna do that now. Oh, let's see. I'm gonna open our uh yearbook for graduate. Oh, this is mine, not yours. I know. I was really bummed. I wish we would have taken these to the reunion. This would have been so funny to read. But at the reunion, we did kind of crank call somebody. At the reunion? It's the first Friday night. I have and if you were really thinking of don't say the name, but just read the message. Okay, I won't say the name. Because this um this kind of is kind of funny, gives context to our uh Jen and my breakup. Oh yeah, we should probably bring that up and talk about that too. Jen, so much has happened within the last two years. An apology is needed for what happened between you and Nancy. Like, did he cause a problem? Like it's I don't know. Sometimes you lose one for the better of the whole. Thanks a lot. And the funny thing is, this guy reached out to me after high school. Good luck in all you do. I hope things pan out well for you. And P.S. The phone bur works both ways. Well, dang it, we tried twice. We've tried over the years to talk to. This person and the funny thing is, is that he has answered the phone and been like, What?

SPEAKER_02 22:06

Knowing it's us.

SPEAKER_01 22:09

Hey Jen. Well, I'm really glad I got to start talking to you again this year. I guess we weren't talking. Too bad we couldn't continue our friendship from before. Aww. Remember Sean? I love it. Remember Sean. The happy or a sad face and it says, JK, well, that's pretty dope that you're still with Joe. Why don't you just get married already? Good lord. Thank goodness I did not get married to Joe. Page me sometime. I feel like we should read our our entries to each other from our senior year. Oh my gosh. But mine that's so long. Did I write a lot or did I know you whoa. Yeah, yeah. I wrote a book. The f the coolest part about this and having these memories, I think, is like when we first found these and we were reading them, and we were on the phone. We weren't even with each other. And we were talking about memories of going to this place in uh central California. And it's where you freaking had your wedding. And we used to go camping when we were younger. That's so crazy. And the memories that we have are really funny. We're so weird. Wait, you wrote me a big long one too. I know.

SPEAKER_02 23:20

Well, maybe we shouldn't be reading these.

SPEAKER_01 23:25

Maybe we shouldn't. Wow. Let me find the one that you just read from that person and I'll read what he read in mine. Alright. Meanwhile, let's pull out another letter. Okay, this is another letter. Sean, are you listening? Dear Jennifer, aka Shorty. Well, that's never changed. Nope. Hey, what's up? How's it going? I'm okay. Or as Little Rumble says, who is Little Rumble? You're doing fine. I'm in science right now and I got an 89 on my test. We also went down to the cafeteria and Miss Smith bought all of us a donut. Ooh, Miss Smith. I remember her. Well, let me tell you a story. Okay, here it goes. One day there was a girl named Sue who was going out with a guy named Joe. Sue and Joe loved each other so much until one day when Sue went to a birthday party. It was a family party. Everybody was there, including her new best friend Mary. Sue and Mary hung out together and were doing everything together. Then suddenly Mary saw a cute guy who cage turned wanted to meet. Well, Sue thought he was cute, so she went over to the guy and said hi. The next thing, Sue finds out that the guy wanted to skate with her. But she said no because she was going out with Joe. So then Sue gave the cute guy her phone number and finds out his name. Finds out his name was Little Rumble. Little Rumble has a best friend named Baby Squabble. Sue Mary Little Rumble and Baby Squabble talked on the phone until late night. They would also talk to each other every day, but then Sue finds out that little Rumble likes her a lot. So Sue finds herself falling in love with Little Rumble. Oh my gosh. Which is not right because she is going out with Joe. It's time to write that. So now, Jennifer, please give Sue some advice because she's very confused. You know what? I really, really wish I had the Dave letter. Still can't find that stupid letter. You'll find it one day. No, I won't, because it's not in here on every letter I possibly could out. I guess let's then we had from Saturday night. We had dinner at the restaurant across the street. Oh hey, look, it's Dave. And then we went back to the bar and just talked until we shut that place down. We we I went up. I was so tired. Yeah, you did. You crashed out everything. I had too much drink the night before.

SPEAKER_02 25:43

But I was I stayed up until it closed.

SPEAKER_01 25:50

Um I was talking to one of uh our classmates and they had said something to me about like how lucky we have been to have been you and I to have had been friends for so long. So many people don't have friendships like ours. We have such a history. We really do. I told her I said, you know, we did have a falling out, and she didn't even know because she was like, I thought you guys have just kept in touch forever. It was probably what a four-year falling out? Yeah. From high school. Yeah, so I think a little tiny bit longer. I think you started acting dumb in 11th grade. I talked to my therapist about this last week. I I think that's when it was. It was like 11th grade. Because remember, you would always we you know, I was feeling very insecure and in high school, and I I think after all the trauma that I went through with like my dad and dealing with all that kind of stuff, I just you know, like they they kind of kicked us out of the church that we had been to, so we had started going to a new church and I started making new friends at that church that didn't go to village. And so I think I just felt more comfortable at church than I did at school. You chose a boy over me. I did. What was his name? I did. Something about Santa Barbara. I but I wasn't hey, hey, I'm Jen. You took my best friend away from me. I'm kidding. He went to village things. We went to medieval times. I think there's a picture of him in the yearbook. When you know when we did medieval times. Joe was there. Joe was there. So I think that, yes, it was really sucky that we weren't friends over a boy and my friend choice and things like that. But I think that had to deal more with my own insecurities of being at high school. Yeah, I just feel uncomfortable. I don't think I've ever changed. I don't I'm not gonna chase people down. No, I think. I don't think I was. So I think it was more of And I wasn't mature enough to to be able to do both. It was just like, Who's we're either at my house or we're at Ryan's house. That's like the first meetup of our Friday night. And then from there we figure it out. And by that time, the parents know where we're gonna be.

SPEAKER_02 28:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:03

And so I just remember going, you got upset. Like, well, I wasn't invited. And I think that was kind of the start of like us not talking. You said I I don't remember I think that I wasn't invited to a lot of things, and I don't think that a lot of people realize that, but I think I took it personally. Yeah. Now as an adult, I realized it was just you meet up, yeah. It was, you know, my parents were teachers, my dad was the principal for such a long time, even though it wasn't at exactly at that time. It was just like I wasn't a party or girl either. Right. I wasn't you know, I was kind of straight laced. I didn't I didn't party in high school. Neither did I. So yeah. But I just hung out with yeah. The well, I think the easiest thing for us was we lived right down the street from each other in the valley, where you guys all lived further away from it. Further. So for whatever reason, Ryan, Travis, we all met. Yeah, because you like looked at what service in it. That was the central location for us. Yes. And then it just got weird and we stopped talking, and literally I don't even know what we did for graduation. And us, yeah. I don't even know if he took pictures. I've got to look through mine. And this was a time, obviously, we didn't have cell phones. We didn't, I mean, that you know, it wasn't like you kept in contact, like even emailing was still just like coming popular. Yeah, where's Jen out or whose house are they at right now? Because we that's that's the only person or people that would know where we were were our parents for the most part. I mean, we were pretty straightways because we Yeah, you didn't really have people tracking you down. Like you didn't like I know we would play outside on our street and like we wouldn't come home until like after dark, yeah, when we were little. So it was just a very different environment when we were growing up. And I, you know, obviously I'm sad that we missed those couple of years, but because we missed our weddings. True. Our first weddings. No, neither your first wedding, my first, my only wedding. Neither of us were in each other's wedding. We had other people. It's okay though. Yeah, it's okay. Well, you were my second. So at least you were in second. So when you get married again, I I you know what I'm gonna tell you, yes, I accept I would be your honor. Just know that you don't have to get I don't need to unwrap a gift that says we're good. Just know that it's me. No, so I think we went, so that was graduation, we didn't talk, then through the first couple years of college, and I obviously was pregnant. Yeah. No, yes, yes. So we ran into each other at where I was working that one year, and just randomly she walks in. Holy cow, a blast from the past. I had lunch with Michelle yesterday, and she goes, Please tell me Jennifer was sitting at the front desk.

SPEAKER_02 30:39

And I said, Yep.

SPEAKER_01 30:41

I totally was pregnant.

SPEAKER_02 30:43

Yep. No, was it pregnant? Alex. Mm-hmm. I was pregnant. Because then did you come over?

SPEAKER_01 30:50

Yeah, soon after. And then we started at my apartment or the townhouse. See, I don't think I was pregnant because you came over to the townhouse. I think it already had him. Okay. So it was after 9-11. So maybe I'm confused. It was after 2000. Yeah, it was after 9-11. So yeah, that's and then it was once you come came over and we started talking, it was like no time had passed again. We never really talked about what happened. Because we really don't know what happened. Yeah. And it we just continued on like we were in ninth grade and something. 100%. Like, I mean, the things, the memories that we have from that point in our friendship, like all the fun places that don't even exist anymore, like going to Lucy's, like all of those little places we would go and meet up. Because we really wouldn't. I would go to your condo sometimes, but we really wouldn't hang out with each other in our homes. No, we would be at yeah, we Lucy's was our favorite spot. Yeah. I mean, that building is still there. Yeah. And it's a restaurant now. But yeah, that was such a cute little spot. I think Michelle was there with us once because we sat on the we sat on the kit. Michelle was there. We went to dinner and sat on the cadious. On the cadio. I wish that place was still there. Yeah, that was that was definitely our vibe. It's changed. Santa Barbara trip. And we did a lot of that stuff. Yeah. Baby showers. Your baby showers. Oh my goodness. Yeah, was Zach. That's right. I have a picture of you, Leah, and Chrissy. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That was fun. I love the little like making your little onesies. Those were fun. I barely remember that. Traumatic brain injury. I don't remember how much these are. I I love that we have those memories. Just those few couple of years, college and marriage or weddings. But that's okay. Yes. Now we have all these fun experiences and memories we make. Who else would I have been able to do a podcast with where we can talk about all of this stuff? Exactly. People don't know how close we were because we don't spend every waking moment together. We don't constantly like, I don't know. I don't even know how to explain it. But we're we talk more now than I think we ever have in general, but you're also a free woman now and not turned to your apartment. Well, you know, I'm I'm not having an affair with you. So that was the realization. We can get real right now if we want to, going back into the traumatic things that we've learned through through this whole podcast experience. But I've kind of had the realization after going to Fourth of July at Mikey's house. And that was so fun, most awesome experience. And it was so cool that I get to finally be friends again with my old friends. But that basically ex thought I was cheating with all of my friends, but they were just my friends. So then I didn't have them as friends anymore. And so I alienated my friends. Yeah, I don't think you ever lost friends. You just stopped, you just alienated yourself. It was you would have us in your life when it was convenient when you weren't having to worry about him. Yeah. So it was mostly when he was out of town. Yeah. But yeah. We would always come over during spring training because that was whenever or when you was working late when you worked for the studios. Yep. And just hanging out. We weren't doing we were not making out. That never happened. You weren't sucking on my channel. We've never kissed. Nope. I never kissed a girl. Neither have I. You were not sucking on my toes. None of that happened. But it's just funny to have that realization that I, you know, the pretty much everyone that was close to me, so that when like I didn't have any close friends, all of my friends were either his family or his friends. Well, and I get, I don't I don't want to have to defend you because it's not I don't want to do that. Like if people don't want to and I would defend you, don't get me wrong. Like I just don't have the time for people who get look at you and view you differently than and wonder, have all these questions on why or she didn't do this, she didn't do that. If you only knew her story. If people need to listen to our stories to be able to understand our friendship, I think. Because we've been through a lot together and not even just understanding us as people and why we are the way we are, why sometimes you can be a crazy pain in the ass, and why I can sometimes just be I definitely am the crazy one. Yeah. I mean sometimes. But most of the time. I'm definitely it's funny. It cracks me up because I am literally the psycho one, and you are literally the brains and like the smart one and the one who has the good, you know. You remember that when I can't remember shit. You can't remember shit now. But that's because of my brain injury that I have. Oh, yes, your traumatic brain injury. Excuse for everything. But it worked. It cracks me up so it's it is true. I wish that everyone would have a friendship like ours, and I just want to be friends with everyone. I just love love.

SPEAKER_02 35:37

I just love love.

SPEAKER_01 35:40

But yeah, this has been this past week, well, the reunion weekend was just such a blast that we got to rekindle friendships, and and I think we're gonna start doing it a little bit more often so that we can, you know, see other people. It won't be a 30-year reunion. It'll be like, hey, we're having a party this weekend and we're gonna meet at Blah Blah Blah. Absolutely. Because so many people live out of state, so many people live so far away and they are not able to. You know who I really wish lived out here, and I'm so jealous that she's not in California anymore? Rach. Oh yeah. We should all go have some Valley Girl uh wine and beer in Texas. It's true because she's got the she's got the valley girl wine. She's got the wine, I've got the beer. Do you? Well, you have the beer, but at least it's cold. Like it's not like it. Where else did I drink it? It's still there. That it's like so I mean, I don't want to say it's too bad that she doesn't live out here because if I can get out of California, I would too. Oh, absolutely. Uh but I think she was she's such a cold person. Which is so funny is we weren't really like we weren't really good friends in high school. And I just felt like I clipped with her at the reunion and it was so nice. Like we're such different people now. Now that we've matured a little bit, a tiny bit. And I just I just like that. I think we just have patience for one another. Yeah. You know, it's not the who's who's the popular ones or who's that was a very big thing when we were younger in high school. I well, I think that's just in general. All high schools, the, you know, the popularity contesting. But it I didn't feel like our school, I'm sure it was, and maybe just I look at it a little differently. I didn't feel like, oh, they're too popular to hang out with me. I can't hang out with them. I mean, you you had we had our close group of core friends, but then, you know, maybe tomorrow I'm gonna go hang out with so-and-so for lunch, or this end of the week I'm gonna go, or Aaron and Travis and Ryan, we're all gonna go and hang out at the pool hall or whatever it is. You know, we all we just we could rotate through people and but still had our core group. Well, because we were also so small of a school, but also a lot of the people went to school from kindergarten through twelfth grade, or you know, I came in second grade. So we've known each other for a very, very long time, ever since we were little. And so you kind of have a bond, even if you don't necessarily stay like super close friends or whatever, you just you know those people forever. Yeah. High school in high school feels like it's taking forever. Now that we've been out of it for so long, it's like, wow, that was just such a quick part of our lives, and we put so much emphasis on it when we're in it, and we don't realize now looking back, it's like, wow, we were very blessed to grow up the way we did and go to the school we went to. Yeah, just the way it all worked out. It's pretty cool. Yeah, we're very lucky and very blessed. Oh my goodness, all these people that didn't come to the reunion, you guys need to come to the reunion. I'm looking through the yearbook. You guys need to come. We need to have a party so that these people can come. We should have. We should well I found it. What is that? I found that he he wrote in my year. Your yours is longer. Oh wait, okay, so he apologized in mine for you, so what did he say to you? Okay. There's just too many memories to recollect on this one page. I'm glad that through all the crap that's gone on, things are still cool between us. Well, man, he's playing the field then in between us. I don't know what to say. I guess there's no way to express it with words on a single paper. I repeat myself sometimes. I need to thank you though. You listened to me when I needed to talk. The years have been fun, Nancy. Dang, what's with Nancy? Dang it. Nobody knew you hated that. That's because I let everything fly and didn't care. There's not a whole lot else to say. I think you I think you can read into this enough to know how I feel.

SPEAKER_02 39:37

Call me, keep in touch. How you feel? About what? About this has been fun.

SPEAKER_01 39:48

Anybody else want to come on to our podcast next season and read their yearbooks? Here's another one from your your buddy. I'm scared. He wrote you a letter? Yeah. That's funny. What does it say? Two Jennifer. What's up? Can you can you picture that? Yes. What's up? I think it was a great idea that we all became pen pals. I don't remember this. Pen pals and prayer what's it called? Prayer partners. Prayer partners. Yes, I am going to watch the Super Bowl. I do like the Raiders and the I have no idea. I can't read the other team. Wait, hold on. This is gonna you're gonna die. I like to dance. What? Fish, play football, baseball, and basketball. I like the s I like some rap, old, and some country, but that's about me.

SPEAKER_02 40:42

What about you? Is this the right yeah it has to be, that's his writing. Isn't that weird? We still remember the writing. That's weird, right? 92 though, we were young. 90, that was eighth grade. Mm-hmm. We were young. I like to dance dance? What?

SPEAKER_01 41:02

You know who you are listening to this podcast. Gotta you gotta come and hang out with us. Right. I think I think we need to read our yearbook. Who's who's this? Oh, for the finale? Yeah, I think we should because I'll get people some things out of mine. Oh boy. But I think we should. Just remember we were like 17 or 18. And let's let's uh set the the stage here for we had this movie that we in high school, we've talked about this before, that we gave each one of us characters. And so we always signed our names and yearbooks from previous years too, and up info senior year from our sign continuously now, I think. I'm gonna have to go back to Luan. Yeah, I'm gonna start signing it Luan. Michelle put put in my yearbook too. Same.

SPEAKER_02 42:02

I just think it's so fun. Should I read it? Go for it.

SPEAKER_01 42:07

I have to find your while you're reading it. You said this is what Jennifer wrote in my earbook. Wow. I am not sure where to begin. There is so much to say. A long time ago you said that no guy, and she underlined guy multiple times, you'll ever get or come between us. I guess you were wrong because you let it happen. I've tried so hard to keep our friendship, but I guess I wasn't good enough for you. I mean, I even called you on your birthday, and even though I got your machined, I still said happy birthday. You didn't bother to call, let alone say it to me at school. I guess I was kind of wishing you would actually come to me. I've tried all I could. I guess you could say that I gave up. We've been friends since the first day of seventh grade. In our high s in our high school senior year, the one-year friends problem should resolve through spending the night, new kids, shagging, and fitness. That does not sound right. We both have the most fun. Shag. Shag the movie, not shagging. Not shagging. What happened to those days? Did we just grow up and grow apart? Does God not want us to have anything to do with each other? Wow. I don't care what went wrong. What did I do? I mean, I guess if my ex read this, he might say, was it like a brick? Nancy, and you underlined my name. Because you hate it. I don't want to go on wondering in life what could have happened. If I could take back whatever I did to hurt you, I would. You were the one. Oh my goodness. Are you gonna be the one who was there for me? Then all of a sudden you were gone. Remember all of our conversations about guys? we were always afraid to tell each other what we did.

SPEAKER_02 44:03

Oh my when we both were when we both were doing the same.

SPEAKER_01 44:10

There's so much that has happened to me that I wanted to share with you. But I guess I'll I'll have to wait until we meet in heaven. I must have been drunk. Wait, I didn't drink back then. I don't only God knows what will happen to us now. Just please never forget me or the memories that we have shared together. Cocos and that guy and that guy Christian in the blue pants touring with new kids all of those goofy pictures Disneyland, Ryan's house, coffee shops, shopping, the Wonder Bra. Oh my goodness, the Wonder Bra. The Wonder Bra. Yeah, we'd be our Jag game, our sweet our sweet 16 parties, the tears, the laughter please don't ever forget. Well I guess I've said it all. May God bless you and keep you safe. Forever friends, whether near or far yours truly Jennifer slash Luan. Can we make that a song? Like it could be a country song. Wow. That's a sweet maybe we should. That's it we'll become famous. That's actually a good letter. I wish this is not the one that we read about like going to Buellton stuff, but I'm this actually It might have been our 11th grade. This actually That's a good letter. This this tells me a lot. I'm really scared to see what I wrote you didn't read it?

SPEAKER_02 45:24

No. Alright Wayne Oh my gosh you wrote Nancy Ann I didn't even sign off which but you did the good A that was popular back in the 90s. Wait. Melina hold on no yeah that's okay you wrote Land Okay skip over anything that's inappropriate.

SPEAKER_01 45:46

You I did you were not inappropriate back then. Now yes okay I guess I will start from the beginning we became friends a long time ago and you were so little and I was so big you it was so true though. We still are the same way our boobs were big though oh my god these are so polar opposite letters it will take me a lifetime to say everything I need I remember when you walk into my mom's classroom and you sat down next to me you had your short hair and I knew from the beginning that we would be friends. The Lord had so much in store for us there were our parties our sweet 16 crying pictures taken everywhere touring the world with the new kids and working out talking on the phone crane calls Susie and Cindy was that who we were we couldn't figure out who Susie and Cindy were the last time we talked about this. Christian Christian is you put Christian we know what Christian that is sharing clothes three way calls to guys you're so old Travis Joe Ryan John and all the rest of them eating cake remember that time at the soccer game on my birthday yes because what's that what was his name Pa. Tau Pa. Oh yeah he was there with us that was at Campbell Hall yeah so was Mikey then we went over to Daniel's house and I kissed another Mike you kissed okay so that's my that's remember I was trying to rescue that's Daniel's brother he was my first kiss I was trying to figure out who was remember we've been asking for years who I kissed some random dude yeah so that was my first kiss and you got to kiss him too man okay I never thought about that before before now what are we gonna do this summer when we have to what are we gonna do this summer when we have to call Christian and are we ever going to start our aerobics club together? No but we started a podcast instead and I have Coach Jen's fitness remember going to Moose's and the lady was cussing and Michelle ordered can I get an H2O please Michelle I hope you're listening those were some of the best pictures remember Magic Mountain Magic Mountain I don't remember Magic Mountain do I I remember when we were at your mom's apartment we went into the spa and it would get hot so we would go jump in the cold pool. I think I said that it would make us sick or Michelle said it. There is one thing that makes me upset though is that the four of us will never be together again. I wish that we could have stayed together forever as best friends. Ag will last forever in our hearts I wish we never had to say goodbye. That sounds like a song combine them both together right our years here at school have come and gone and now we're almost done it seems so foolish that we had to go through what we did. People change as time changed and I wish that it was not true. I value the times that we spent you will always be my bestest buddy even when or if we stay in contact I don't believe that we will ever I don't believe that we will never see we'll never see each other again. As it comes to a close I want to wish you the best of luck in whatever you do don't forget me or the four of us look at the good things and not the bad forget those and throw those away I love you Jen and with all my heart our friendship was the best and I hope that we can mend our hearts Melena so polar opposite I was like you know and I'm like you you wow yep well that was it that was it I didn't even get a K I K I T. Call me later I got cool I didn't have a pager I didn't have anything wrong we're speechless. That's pretty funny it really is it's actually kind of moving yeah and now look at us I know look at us now yep I think that was pretty awesome I dig it I think I think that we should do this every once in a while to remind us of where we came from maybe we should just start every podcast with a letter out of my bag oh my gosh we'll have to a letter out of the bag and a yearbook read from like seventh grade.

SPEAKER_00 49:59

Alright absolutely and just like that we've reached the end of season one of the bestie blend.

SPEAKER_01 50:05

We honestly can't thank you guys enough for listening laughing with us crying with us and being part of this crazy adventure.

SPEAKER_00 50:13

We're gonna take a little summer break soak up some sunshine enjoy a few vacations and maybe create a few stories that we'll probably regret sharing later. Absolutely I can't wait.

SPEAKER_01 50:22

But don't worry season two will be here before you know it and we've got some exciting guests some new conversations and plenty more bestie moments coming your way until then take care of yourself call your friends make some memories and remember life is always better when it's budded with the people you love.

SPEAKER_00 50:40

Thanks for listening to the Bestie Blend. See you in season two