I have an incredible best friend! We’ve known each other around 15 years and we met through the dead husbands club (AKA WAY Widowed and Young) *other deceased spouse options may apply. WAY is a wonderful charity and I highly recommend them to anyone bereaved of a partner at a young age.

We have had so many adventures together, and Penny is one of the few people I am comfortable sharing a hotel room with. It was on one of our many trips away that we went to a hotel reception and announced we had a booking in the name of Barlow and Benfield. Or was it Benfield and Barlow? Either way we laughed and decided we sounded like a detective agency. And consequently, Penny has been known as Agent Barlow since. Except for the day when she was, for a limited time, Best Lady.

Over that 15 year period we have become increasingly close. I still can’t get my head around how awesome our friendship is, but if it wasn’t for our husbands dying way too young, we would never have met. Just shows I guess good things can come out of bad.

Agent Barlow is one of the few people who accepts my bipolar disorder and seems to have a knack of knowing how to handle my moods. She’s never afraid to kick my ass if I need it, but mostly she just looks out for me. She seems to be able to read me like no one else. She didn’t seem fazed by visiting me on a psychiatric ward, and that was long before we were as close as we are now.

We’ve watched each other’s kids grow up and blossom. We’ve clung to each other as ambulances flash by. PTSD United! We’ve been through all sorts, and when I came to getting married again, there was no one else I could imagine having by my side. Although I have other friends, I knew categorically that Agent Barlow would be the one could keep me grounded on the big day. And frankly, I couldn’t think of anyone nicer to share it with.

I’m really looking forward to celebrating Penny’s big birthday later this year. And hopefully spending some time with her and seeing the sights in her new location. But most importantly I’m happy she is happy there and part of a lovely community.

Near or far, soul sisters joined by the hearts.