This post is dedicated to one of the best friends a girl could ever ask for-
Ashley Ann Gowing!
I feel like I have such amazing friends in my life- friends that support me and make me laugh, friends that are true to who they are and are so down to earth. I've wanted to honor my friends in some way, and since today is Ashley's BIRTHDAY, it is the perfect opportunity.
Ashley and I met the summer between our freshman and sophomore year of high school. I remember her during freshman year as a bubbly girl who was always smiling, and she wore green eyeliner (haha- funny the things that I remember). Anyway- that summer I was taking driver's ed, and Ashley's friend Megan was supposed to pick me up afterwards to hang out. Ashley and Megan both picked me up, and I remember we went to Ashley's house and hung out for the rest of the night. From then on- we just became better and better friends!
I have so many memories with Ashley- countless! But I have thought of some that stand out most to me: (Note: these are not in any kind of chronological order)
- The summer we met I remember driving around in her mom's Mercedez listening to Avril Lavigne's CD ALL THE TIME! She doesn't remember listening to her that much, but whenever I hear a song from that CD now I always think of Ashley.
- That same summer, Ashey, Erica Kerr and I dressed up like super heros and drove around Eagle in Erica's mom's convertible throwing ketchup packets at cars (mature- right? Remember- we were 15!) This one car pulled up next to us at a stop light and we were so scared this man was going to yell at us. He rolled his window down, and right when the light turned green, he sprayed us with his water bottle and took off! We couldn't stop laughing- we jammed to Justin Timberlake's Seniorita throughout the entire ride.
- Senior year there was a lot of construction around our high school, so we would just rollerblade forever until the school traffic cleared- we went on other rollerblading adventures all around Eagle- at 2 AM might I add.
- We played some very sneaky pranks including glue sticks and feathers- that is all I will say!
- On our drives home from school we would call each other when ever we heard a great song on the radio- just so the other person could tune in and enjoy it as well haha.
- Countless weekends were spent at her cabin or mine- those were the best.
- We were able to go together to visit our friend Zaundra in New York after my freshman year of college. Ashley was scared to death of riding on airplanes, but she made it through! I think she was too entertained to even think about flying because we were taking so many pictures of ourselves!
Note the observer in the background- we had lots of laughs about him!
The Cheek Graze- mimicking the sick couple in front of us
- Senior year we started the year off right by going to the Keith Urban concert. Boy did we dance the night away! After the concert- Ashley's mom's friend had a brilliant idea: if you want to meet the band, all you have to do is go through all the DO NOT ENTER signs. Genius right? Well we didn't get too far- at all actually. But, as we were walking outside Ashley and her mom's friend snuck down by Keith's tour bus. I think they even saw Applebees To-Go inside. They ended up getting chased by a security guard in a golf cart- bummer. We didn't end up meeting Keith- but we met his band!
- Senior year we planned a girls trip after graduation. We had everything planned out- hotel, activities, even a road trip mix for the ride down there. The only thing missing- a car. Yes- the most important thing to get to California. We didn't end up going because nobody had a car that would fit us all and that parents were willing to let us drive in a place we had never been, hours and hours and hours away. It was such a bummer- but we ended up going to Park City with a few of us and that was still fun.
- High school graduation was an amazing time!
- Senior Prom we were able to go in the same group of friends. We ate at PF Changs and stuffed ourselves full, and then ate the entire chocolate cake, which is huge. We could hardly breathe after that. When we arrived at the dance, nobody was dancing on the floor. So Ashley, Zaundra and I went and broke it down to Bohemian Rhapsody. You should have seen us- we rocked it!
- The tube rides we went on with my dad and brother were KILLER- as seen in the pictures posted. We definitely have taken many beatings.
Yes- my legs are 100 feet up in the air- at least it felt like it!
- Many afternoons were spent cruisin' around on Ashley's beach cruisers.
- One summer, the Gowing's invited me to go on their 4th of July river rafting float down the Cabarton. Since then we've made it a tradition and I've gone for 4 years now! The first time Ashley and I actually floated down the Cabarton on tubes. Her family couldn't believe we didn't get jolted out of them on a few of the waves- it was pretty intense, but we laughed the entire way! I love those floats.
- Years ago at a family gathering, my family asked me to describe my perfect day. It didn't take me too long to think of it- My perfect day was when Ashley, Zaundra and I went river rafting with Zaundra's family. After the day on the river, we jumped in Ashley's truck (which is sadly not alive anymore) and drove the rest of the way to Ashley's cabin in Cascade. We were really really wet so Zaundra and I laid in the bed of her truck with our iPods and just soaked it all in. At Ashley's cabin there wasn't much to eat because nobody had been there for weeks, but we managed to scrap up something for dinner and then we headed into town for the county fair. We were in our sweats, hair pulled back and no make-up on. All the girls there had it caked on, with their little mini-skirts and poofed up hair. I just remember having the best time, and loved how none of us cared what we looked like. It was such a fun, relaxing day and it honestly was perfect!
Songs that remind me of Ashley:
- Any song off of Avril's first CD- mostly My World
- Make it Mine- Jason Mraz: the summer before I got married Ashley came up to my cabin with me and all I can say is This song + Red Vines as fake flutes = amazing.
- Honey and the Moon- Joseph Arthur- this song defined our California road trip mix that never ended up being used
- Fast Car- Tracy Chapman
- Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen, Senior Prom 2006
- I know it's not a song- but the movie How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days is basically the only movie Ashley would watch :) "Our love fern- you let it DIE! Are you gonna let us die?"
Other fun pictures!
Those are just the few memories I have with Ashley. She is a beautiful person inside and out and I look up to her in so many ways. She is passionate, easy going, full of laughter, and loves life. I am so happy to have Ashley in my life, and so grateful to have such a rockin' best friend!
Love You Ashley! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Wish I could celebrate it with you.
