My Friend, Jane Ellis

“How long have you known Jane Ellis?”

This is a question I’ve been answering since Jane Ellis & I left our hometown years ago.

“Since birth” is the short answer I typically give. To which the question asker sometimes looks at me like I’m crazy. Given that most people that ask did not grow up in a small town, “since birth” means something different to them. Like maybe ever since Kindergarten, or 3rd grade, or middle school.

But really people, “since birth” is the most accurate I can get it. You see, even though Jane Ellis is 8 months younger than me, I have never known life without her in it.

As my “since birth” friend prepares to move across the pond on a great adventure, I’ve been reflecting on our friendship and everything it means to me past and present. A few stories came to mind...

This is us, circa the middle school years, when we went through United Methodist confirmation class together. I was technically supposed to go through it the year before, but sat out and waited on JE to catch up. I was so glad I did – it was a great class, with a great pastor, and a wonderful friend. I promise this scarf was sooooo IN at the time.

Jane Ellis and I took dance from the same teacher for many years. We were only in the same group a couple of times. One of these times was in junior high, when we were the “Jacks” of Hit the Road Jack. I think it was the most fun I ever had dancing. I’m glad I did it all those years, but I was never a natural dancer. I left that to JE. And she left those swim meets to meJ It’s funny, but we often tried to make our worlds rotate the same, but found that our talents were just different.

 

As you know, my family canoes. Which meant until I was old enough to have a say so, I canoed. Jane Ellis was nice enough to accompany me from time to time. And thank goodness this meant I got to accompany her family on non-sleeping-on-the-ground vacations.

Jane Ellis & I went through Rush (or to be politically correct “recruitment”) at Mizzou together. This is us with Jeanette Babb Brown on Bid Day 1996. Jeanette & Jane Ellis were both Kappa Kappa Gamma legacies and everyone just knew I would choose Kappa too. Ya know “because Jane Ellis & I always did the same thing.” I chose Delta Gamma and we each got to have our own sorority experience.

We are so much alike and so much different. We’ve definitely got the ying and yang thing goin on. And it makes me smile often. Even to this day, she’ll say “Ab, you would be so proud of me, I made my list and I’m checking things off. I am being SO organized,” or “Ab, I’ve really been listening and paying attention lately, you would be so proud of me. I even remembered that person's name!” (She always teases me that I remember everyone's name. That's why we make a good team.) I love that she wants me to be proud of her. Truth is, plain and simple, I’ve been proud of who she was every day of her life. And I’m proud to be her friend.

We each have our own roads, yet our roads still manage to meet after all of these years. We’ll just add a big overpass to this part of our lives. I will miss the security of knowing she is a few miles away from me, but am so proud of both Jane Ellis and Robbie for choosing this adventure for their family. I for one, can’t wait to hear them talk Southeast Missouri with an English accent.

Jane Ellis recently summed up our relationship in just a few words.

Timeless. Effortless. Classic.

The words are so true they bring tears to my eyes.

Cheerio for now, my dear Jane Ellis.

I love you. Ab