Sixth Character: Caitlin Holland
Caitlin may prove to be my most challenging character yet. It’s so hard to wrap Caitlin up in a nutshell, maybe because she is the nutshell (that was not meant to be an insult in any way, shape, or form- allow me to continue). Caitlin’s personality is kind of a smorgasbord of traits that really could encompass the whole of our sweet little circle. She’s quirky and sweet, artsy and down to earth, inventive and levelheaded. She’s creative and imaginative like Jen, classy and relational like Hope, full of grace and love like Emily, spunky and spontaneous like Haley, and satirical and reliable like Melanie. She really ties the neat little bow on the randomly compiled present of our friendship. Caitlin has defined friendship for me from day one; she is no different 11 years later. Our friendship goes back the furthest for me, and the road we’ve travelled together has been blessed with every bump and curve its taken. I truly can’t wait for you to meet my last, but certainly by no means least, best friend.
How I met Caitlin: Coming out of homeschooling for the first time as a fifth grader, my heart raced with so many emotions on that first day. I had no idea what to expect; surely I’d make friends, school couldn’t be all that hard, but how to crack into the tight-knit bond of all the students who transferred together from Covenant Christian to begin this new school was a whole other animal I didn’t see coming. Caitlin was on the fringe like me, just looking to survive in those early days. Surprisingly, she had just moved relatively recently from Minnesota and had been a home-schooler herself, and my nervous beating heart couldn’t have been calmed in a better way. She was half my size (more on my gigantism in my early years in a post coming soon), but she fit me just right. She was my only instant friend- I’m tearing up just a little as I think of our innocent bond in those first years.
My first memory of Caitlin: When I think of that fifth grade year, all that floods my memories are sounds of girlish giggles and silly games. I think we laughed more in those first few years than I have in the entirety of my life! We were inseparable. Whether we were reading aloud to each other medieval literature and gawking at each other’s speaking blunders or showing early signs of our literature-minded futures through stories we’d write together just for fun, laughs were never in short supply. I think our awesome factor hit its peak in junior high band- Caitlin the clarinet player, and I on the French horn. Oh, we were awful, but that made the experience all the better. We’d practice in our rooms together and legitimately drive anyone within a five mile radius insane. After practice, a quick round of the Barbie game would ensue, naturally altered by our own brand of fun and own set of rules. I have so many sweet, precious memories from my first true friend at Faith that I wish I could share every one- just know she means the world to me for being my rock from the beginning.
Highlights of our Glory Years: Caitlin and I were so blessed to be surrounded by every single girl I’ve acquainted you with, and our “glory years” can only be summed up by the consummating joy of daily friendship together. When I think of high school, I just remember Caitlin being there for all of it. Our hearts have always beat in rhythm, even if they beat to the sound of different drummers. I just remember sleepovers and laughter, growing pains into adolescence and into maturity, mums and garters, jamming to music entirely too loud while driving around aimlessly for hours, unabashedly embarrassing one another in public, awkward dates and fleeting crushes…I just remember life with this girl. Our friendship wasn’t built on emotion or feelings of the moment; as with all best friends, we had our ups and downs, but never once did I question if she was the “forever and always” kind of best friend.
Who she was then: I’ve told you so much about our friendship, now let me tell you about this rock star. Caitlin came into her own in high school; gone were the awkward-length denim shorts and Keds, and in walked current and modern Caitlin. It happened overnight, really. I was totally (and still am) left in the dust. It seemed that once the band instruments were returned to their rightful place, (anywhere out of our hands) the woman Caitlin emerged. I specifically remember people taking fashion cues from her outfits, as I’m positive they still do. She had a way of being edgy without leaving the boundaries- she pushed forward at the same pace as fashion, an early adopter, if you will. She could pull off vintage mod cloth on Monday, then channel a punk-rock diva on Tuesday, and any day of the week she could find at Forever 21 what you could never find if you looked for hours; her eye for fashion and her ear for music made Caitlin special, unique, and enviable. She had such a way with people, and often had to carry more than her fair share of burdens. She was like a magnet to the lonely and emotionally needy, and she cared for them as if they were her own sisters. She was the best listener around, and I feel as though people were constantly vying for the title of her best friend. She took it all so gracefully, making everyone feel like a million bucks and imparting the conventional wisdom of a very mature woman in her own Caitlin wrapping paper.
Who she is now: While Caitlin may or may not fully realize it, her power is in her words and her warmth. She effectuates change through her loyal friendship and the undivided attention she gives to lost and hurting souls. I’ve seen Caitlin walk through college with more courage and patience than most would be willing to endure. Starting her freshman year at Baylor, she returned home after her first year to make one thing for certain- that she was in the place that God desired for her to be. Leaving like that takes a lot of bravery, and Caitlin did it with passion. She served her family while she lived under their roof for another year, and when she was confident in the Lord’s calling on her life, she returned to Baylor a new, radically changed and buoyant woman. She’s studying communication at Baylor and her heart is to be in the will of God. She taught me how to pray that and expect that in my life, just as she’s taught countless others the power of the Holy Spirit and the way to find true peace and joy in life.
Who would play Caitlin if my made-up book hit the big screens: I’m going to be way off on this one. All I’m getting is Alexis Bledel, for her funky fashion and depicted intelligence. She also held the Sisterhood girls together, so I’m going to say it fits.
Caitlin and I have probably taken the most similar life paths into college and beyond. Not that we are by any means the same person, but our eventual hopes and dreams always seem to be on the same playing field. She’s found her niche at Baylor, but she’s not by any means defined by it. She’s incredibly witty- I don’t think I mentioned that- and she’s by far the funniest girl I know. She inherited so many of her qualities from her father, including her spiritual discernment, her clever sense of humor, her spirit for the unconventional, and her way with words. My personal opinion is that she should totally start her own blog. On second thought, maybe not, because she would probably show me up :) Caitlin, I miss you, and I truly pray often that life leads us back to the same city one day. You’re just too good of a friend.
Pictures of Caitlin
You are too beautiful, Caitlin Ruth
RB
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