Episode Transcript
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Kristen (00:01):
Hey everybody.
welcome back.
I'm really excited about thisepisode because as you know,
April was all about friendship,if you haven't listened to those
episodes, you need to go backand listen to all of them.
one of the biggest things Iwanted to talk about in
friendship was highlight.
One of the most impressivefriendships I've seen.
these two lovely ladies are inmy life and they have the most
(00:24):
amazing story of not only howthey met, but how they've stayed
together and now how they'redoing life together and having
kids that are friends And It'sso beautiful and I'm like, we
have got to get this on thepodcast.
We need to share it with theworld to know all about them.
So today we are talking to Amberand Paige.
Hi Amber.
Hi Paige.
(00:45):
Hi.
So before we get into it in allof your story, the listeners
need to know a little bit aboutyou.
So Amber, do you wanna give us aquick little intro of who you
are?
Sure.
Amber (00:56):
hello everyone.
I am Amber I am a wife and amother of two children.
I live in the same town as Paigeand Kristen and I am a real
estate agent.
I've got pets and chickens andjust doing all the life things.
Kristen (01:13):
So Paige, tell us about
you.
Paige (01:16):
Yeah, of course.
we have all the same things incommon.
I'm a mom and a wife, and I domarketing and communications,
and I'm a veteran.
I also have chickens and dogs.
Kristen (01:28):
See, it's like you guys
are the same in every single
way.
So I think to get thingsstarted, we really need to
understand, how you guys knoweach other.
So I know there's a lot ofstories to tell, but if we can
start with the first one, how isit that you guys met?
Amber (01:45):
So, it was.
In May of 2011, and we were bothout processing to go to
bootcamp.
We were joining theInternational Guard at the same
time.
We didn't know each other atthat time, but we were getting
ready to go.
we met at the airport.
it wasn't really until we got toDallas that we started talking.
(02:09):
but yeah, we were leaving to goout to bootcamp together and had
no idea where our friendshipwould turn into this.
Kristen (02:16):
Okay.
So that's the small part of thestory.
You've gotta tell me theextended version, all the issues
you had getting there, how youbonded with each other.
that's the part of the storythat I love hearing.
Paige (02:29):
Well, we got stuck in
Dallas for 12 hours and we got
to know each other.
Amber taught me how to play afew card games and we decided,
it was time to eat some foodthat we wouldn't get to have for
two months.
then we ended up showing up tobootcamp at two o'clock in the
morning.
everybody else had already beenthere for at least 12 hours, so
we're late.
So when you see the videos onYouTube of everyone showing up.
(02:51):
On the bus getting off andthey're screaming at everyone.
Put your bags down, pick'em up,put'em up, put'em down, pick'em
up.
It's just her and I gettingscreamed at.
Yeah, we missed all of it.
So it was just us.
then they walk us up to thedorms and everyone's sleeping
and they tell us to stand in aroom until everybody wakes up
with this book.
And, everyone wakes up andthey're running around
frantically and we have no ideawhat's going on.
(03:13):
they're slapping gel in our hairand teaching us how to.
Make our beds and what to say,how to talk to people, how to
walk, we go to the chow hall, wehave no idea what's going on in
the chow hall.
There's so many rules there.
So we're learning all of'em.
You know, as, as we're goinglate, as we're going, I know the
Amber (03:31):
whole first day, like the
first day is all the basic
instructions.
Kristen (03:34):
orientation
Amber (03:34):
Yeah.
Like one of the things you haveto do is give a reporting
statement.
So anytime you talk to someoneelse in uniform, like your
training instructor.
you'd have to be like, traineeWellington Reports is ordered.
Well, I didn't know.
We didn't know what to say.
No.
So like this tis coming up andshe's screaming at us.
She's like, who are you?
And I'm like, I'm Aunt Amber.
And she's like, where's yourreporting statement?
And we're like, I dunno, what iswe supposed to do?
(03:56):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It was pretty, prettyterrifying.
So basically, we bondedimmediately over the fact that
we were both terrified.
Kristen (04:03):
Mm-hmm.
Amber (04:04):
And going into something
that was super scary.
Like before we even.
Got there.
we were already scared.
Mm-hmm.
and then we show up late.
Late.
That's
Paige (04:14):
That's you only you would
be late to bootcamp.
And I was just, sorry becauseI'm late at life,
Kristen (04:20):
That's so funny.
It's like you guys bonded overthe trauma.
Paige (04:23):
That happens a lot for
some reason
Kristen (04:26):
it's crazy that you
were The only ones coming out of
St.
Louis or stuck in Dallas.
Yep.
Paige (04:30):
And since we were late,
we got thrown into band flight.
So we got to, yeah,
Amber (04:33):
got to play symbols.
Paige (04:34):
got to play simple
Amber (04:35):
because
Paige (04:36):
they
Amber (04:36):
were like, did any, did
you guys play a band?
And you know, did any of youplay an instrument?
Which I actually, I mean I did,but I didn't say it You didn't
know what was gonna happen.
I didn't know what was gonnahappen if I said yes,
Paige (04:45):
volunteer for anything.
Yeah, We were like, no,
Amber (04:48):
we were just quiet.
And then they were like, it'stwo o'clock in the morning.
They didn't wanna inpro us.
they were like, just throw'em inthe band flight.
We were like, what does thatmean?
We had no idea.
So we got to learn how to playthe cymbals.
Yeah, that was fun.
Can you still play the cymbals?
Paige (05:01):
Yeah.
Boom.
Crash, boom, crash.
No, we stopped.
That's
Amber (05:06):
what they taught you
because the motions you would
make is you were like, boom.
And then when you would pullthose cymbals apart, it would
make the crashing noise.
Yes.
So it'd be like, boom, crash,crash.
Paige (05:15):
we stop and that's it.
Kristen (05:20):
fantastic life skill.
We did it.
Please tell me, you still putthat on your resume now, like
you also are a professional.
No, we keep that symbol player.
Paige (05:28):
We keep that one in the
vault.
We don't tell many people about.
Now everyone's gonna know.
Kristen (05:32):
All right, so you
mentioned that there were foods
that you had to eat in Dallasthat you weren't going to eat
again.
Oh gosh.
It was McDonald's.
It was McDonald's.
Oh, McDonald's.
I mean, because you knew we weregonna have to eat
Amber (05:41):
like just whatever they
fed us.
Yeah.
So we were like, well, we'restuck here.
We might as well eat McDonald'sone last time.
basically that's what basictraining was.
It was like a prison, you know?
Yeah.
when you're in basic training,it's like you're in this whole
nother world.
You're separated from everythingyou know everyone you love, and
you forget what's outside ofthose walls.
(06:01):
Mm-hmm.
That whole time.
Yeah.
Right.
So you don't have
Paige (06:03):
your clothes, you don't
have your toiletry, you don't
have anything that you're usedto.
You can't.
Just call anyone or text anyone
Amber (06:10):
no, you don't even have
access to your phone.
It was.
Kept in a locked box untilSunday and if you were well
behaved that week, maybe you gotto make a phone call.
Paige (06:19):
Yeah.
I think that's what a lot ofpeople don't understand about
bootcamp.
Like, they'll say like, oh, airForce Bootcamp so easy,
especially compared to theothers.
And it's like, yeah, it's notthat physically hard but if
you're already in pretty goodshape, it's not hard physically,
it's more like mentally it's thefirst time in your life you're
gonna get thrown into anenvironment where you're
disconnected from everyone elseYou don't get anything you want.
everything you're doing is whatsomeone else is telling you to
(06:40):
do and you have to listen oryou're in trouble.
Right.
Or you're on your face
Amber (06:44):
and they're constantly,
you know, the whole idea is to
tear you down, to build you backup.
Mm-hmm.
And they do that.
it works for sure.
Paige (06:51):
I recommend it.
I think everybody should gothrough it.
I totally do.
Kristen (06:54):
And did you both go
right outta high school?
Paige (06:57):
I did not.
Okay.
Mm-hmm.
I signed up right out of highschool, but I had to wait 10
months for bootcamp.
in the National Guard, you'll goto drill every month until you
go to bootcamp.
You just don't have a uniformyet.
I just had to wait a while togo.
Amber (07:10):
And that's the thing too,
we have an age gap between us.
I was 23 when I joined.
I had already been to Jeffco,did a couple years there, went
off to college for a year Irealized I needed some stability
and structure.
So that's why I came back homeand joined the military.
Kristen (07:25):
I love it.
So do you remember the firsttime you saw each other or how
it happened, or any firstimpressions you have of each
other?
And I'm asking because I'veexperienced this where I may
meet somebody right away.
I'm like, oh my gosh, I lovethis girl.
She's fantastic.
And then later on I'm like, thatwas wrong.
Misjudged that one.
But I've also done the oppositeI'm like, Ugh, I can't stand
this person.
(07:46):
And they become one of my bestfriends.
So I am curious if either ofthose things happen to you and I
wanna know.
Honestly, what were the firstimpressions you had of each
other or what your thoughtswere?
Paige (07:57):
Amber, when she was out
processing, had her friends, two
or three friends, and herfamily.
I was just with my dad and like,I don't mean anything bad by
that, but I was probablyjealous.
I was 19, so I wasn't verymature I thought Amber was a
dork.
she was wearing glasses.
Which.
Ironically, I ended up wearingglasses a year after that, she
(08:18):
was singing Justin Bieber withher friends, and I just thought
she was the biggest dork.
I was like, seriously?
What is this girl?
It was probably partly because,I was super nervous, so honestly
it was maybe helpful that.
She was acting like a dork.
'cause I can focus on thatinstead of the fact that we're
about to leave her bootcamp.
Yeah, she's totally fine.
but once we actually, we didn'tinteract until we got to the
(08:41):
airport and we're like, we don'thave a choice but to interact.
You know what I mean?
Like the
Kristen (08:44):
forced friendship.
Paige (08:45):
Forced
Kristen (08:45):
proximity.
Amber (08:46):
Yeah.
And so, I had a whole crew,there to wave goodbye at the,
security or whatever.
I was probably crying and youknow, I wore my glasses'cause I
don't think, I don't remember.
Like, I think we couldn't wearour contact.
I think you had to wear Glasses.
Paige (08:59):
they gave you those big
old Yeah, I
Amber (09:00):
had, they call'em BCGs,
birth control glasses because
they're these giant like brown.
Thick framed.
Was that the
Kristen (09:08):
picture you showed me
last night?
Probably No.
The before picture for you.
Amber (09:12):
don't have a picture in
my brown BCGs.
Okay.
That was my, those were like mydress glasses because we were in
our blues.
Even they were still not cute,but They were issued, so, yeah.
Whenever I first saw Paige, itwas just her and her dad, and
she was just really quiet.
I was like, oh, I don't thinkshe really wants to talk to me.
Paige (09:28):
I don't think everyone
always says that I look mean,
but I'm not,
Amber (09:31):
I just thought.
You were shy.
That's what I thought.
I thought, oh, well she's shy,
Kristen (09:35):
You
Amber (09:35):
later now I'm like, oh,
well you're probably just, we
were all just probably a littlescared.
And I was just crying my eyesout saying goodbye to my family.
But I was trying to be So notseeing Justin
Kristen (09:45):
Bieber?
Amber (09:45):
No, I'm sure that I was.
Oh, she was.
It was definitely baby.
Yep.
It was that song
Paige (09:51):
and I, it's crazy'cause
my memory is not good at all.
But for whatever reason Iremember that.
I don't remember like walkingdown the flight line.
Behind you leaving the outprocessing area.
Singing that song with yourfriends.
Like that's what I remember.
Amber (10:05):
I don't remember that
specific moment.
I'm not surprised.
Paige (10:08):
Good old Jimbo next to me
alright.
Amber (10:10):
so yeah, I remember
sitting at Lambert and being
like.
hey, where are you from?
And realizing we were from thesame county.
so it was just like, oh, we're.
Wow.
They're actually from the samecounty.
That's kind of like a smallYeah.
I mean, I know we're bothjoining the guard and could have
been from anywhere that waspretty cool.
Kristen (10:28):
It was like meant to
be.
Yep.
We just sure didn't know it yet.
do you have any memorable firststories that still make you
laugh?
I feel like the Justin Bieberone is definitely one.
But from Dallas or when you guyswere first there and you're
getting there, are there anymemories that stand out that you
still think back on and theystill just make you chuckle a
little bit?
Amber (10:50):
one of the things that
you know, when you're going
through bootcamp together, Wewere always finding something to
keep us motivated to get to thatnext week.
Sundays were always the mostimportant day of the week to us.
We called it like gettingthrough basic was Sunday to
Sunday, chow to chow.
That was like how you counteddown your days by your meals and
your Sundays.
Sundays were for grilled cheeseand Jesus.
(11:11):
That was because they servedgrilled cheese
Paige (11:13):
in the chow hall.
Amber (11:13):
And then we got to go to
church, which was a time where
you could actually.
feel normal.
Like you could be yourself.
Paige (11:20):
You're like fighting to
stay awake the whole time.
But still, it was enjoyable andit smelled horrific in there.
Like it was nasty, but I don'tremember.
You don't remember the smell ofall those sweaty people ran in a
chapel.
It was terrible.
I don't remember that.
We're all fighting to stayawake, but we still looked
forward to it
Amber (11:40):
But church was great.
And then.
We actually ended up gettingbaptized while we were at basic
training.
Mm-hmm.
Together.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
We got baptized together and itwas on, I don't remember the
date, but I remember it wasFather's Day.
Mm-hmm.
Kristen (11:52):
Oh wow.
Amber (11:53):
so whatever that weekend
in June.
Would've been.
You guys
Kristen (11:57):
would've been friends
for like a month by then.
Amber (11:59):
Yep.
It felt like forever.
Kristen (12:00):
Did it feel like, if
you can remember back then is it
one of those things where youfelt like you'd known each other
forever?
Like just you clicked so much?
Or was there still developingand getting to know each other?
Amber (12:11):
I would definitely say we
were still getting to know each
other.
I mean, there was probably noteven then like enough time to
really
Kristen (12:17):
mm-hmm.
Amber (12:18):
Get to know each other.
Right.
Because we were constantlyrunning around and doing things,
but it was just more of like,even though we didn't know any
of those other women in ourflight before we got there
either.
Paige (12:27):
Yeah.
Amber (12:28):
Us just like briefly
getting to start our friendship
before we left, I feel made usjust that much closer.
mm-hmm.
Silly things like okay, in theshower there,
Kristen (12:39):
here's story
Amber (12:39):
You have to share a
shower with all the women.
It's one big shower with like 40women.
Kristen (12:45):
like prison, right?
It is, yeah.
Amber (12:47):
gotta know who you're
comfortable sharing a shower
head with.
Paige (12:49):
for sure.
Amber (12:50):
So, and you're not in
there long, don't get me wrong,
right?
you literally have like twominutes to wash, so it's not
like.
There's that much time to beworried about anything.
Kristen (12:58):
propping your leg up to
shave your legs and everyone, we
didn't even get, weren't allowedto shave.
We weren't
Amber (13:03):
allowed to shave until
week,
Paige (13:05):
you had to earn it.
Six.
Amber (13:06):
Nada.
We were not allowed to use therazor.
Paige (13:09):
That's insane.
Amber (13:10):
It's pretty bad.
Paige (13:11):
forgot
Amber (13:12):
The summer in Texas.
Paige (13:13):
Oh yeah.
Right there in the summer.
We graduated July, eighth.
Amber (13:18):
I think it was an eight
week
Paige (13:20):
Eight weeks,
Kristen (13:20):
yeah.
Amber (13:20):
Mm-hmm.
Kristen (13:22):
so you make it through
BMT.
You graduate.
And then what happens?
are you guys going to the sameplace?
What?
Paige (13:28):
What happened?
She went to Mississippi forschool.
And I went to Virginia.
Both of our schools were sixweeks,
Amber (13:34):
12
Paige (13:34):
weeks.
I think
Amber (13:34):
mine was only like a
month.
Paige (13:36):
I wanna say mine was four
to six weeks.
You were gone longer than sixweeks.
Did you guys keep in touchduring that time?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Then we came home and we foundan apartment together.
Amber (13:46):
Yep.
I remember telling my mom Hey,you know, whenever I get back
from school, I'm moving in withPaige and she's like, wait a
minute, what?
she's like, who?
you didn't run this by me first.
you can't just move out.
I was like, oh, no, we're gonnabe roommates, move in together.
So that was pretty immediateonce you got back home?
I feel like, we did move back,probably with her parents for a
(14:06):
little bit, at least until
Paige (14:07):
we could find a place.
We looked at several places, butwe ended up in Our first
apartment and we lived
Amber (14:13):
life
Paige (14:14):
We lived
Amber (14:14):
a lot in a short amount
of time.
Yeah.
it was freedom complete freedom.
Paige (14:18):
exactly how I described
it.
When we talked about itrecently.
It was like we were justcompletely free, Just did
whatever we,
Amber (14:24):
were a little more
confident probably.
Yeah.
Independent.
Yeah.
Like we were just like excitedto be out on our own.
So, when we sat in our notebookthat we were gonna party, we did
that, we checked that one offthe list.
We checked a a lot of times.
Yeah.
Kristen (14:40):
Now before we get into
that, I know there are stories,
but you mentioned a list.
Would this be an opportune timeto share the list that you speak
of?
Amber (14:49):
I can share a little bit
about the list.
so I guess at some point, Idon't know when.
I don't remember writing that.
I remember when started this.
I definitely
Paige (14:56):
started the list.
That's my handwriting at thebeginning.
Amber (14:59):
we made, a look forward
to list.
like a little bucket list forwhenever we got home.
we said different stuff that wewere gonna do.
some of it's checked off.
We said we were gonna go to aCardinals game, get wasted.
Kristen (15:11):
We did that.
Amber (15:11):
That was on there.
we're gonna have coming homeparties.
We did that.
Doing dinner, lunch, shopping ondrill weekends, go to ihop, like
just random stuff.
Paige had started it and one ofthese on here, I'm still trying
to convince Paige, but we saidwe were gonna get fish tattoos
because we got baptized.
little minis.
she started it and then she'slike, okay, add more sister.
(15:34):
I added stuff that we were gonnafind Guthrie a job and we're
gonna have a spa day, go to theshooting range.
just fun stuff.
Gave us something to lookforward to because that's what
you needed.
To get through those times wasstuff to look forward to
afterwards.
Kristen (15:49):
So you're living
together in your apartment?
Mm-hmm.
Is it a one bedroom or twobedroom?
It was a two bedroom.
Did you guys still share theshower or had we moved on from
that?
Paige (15:57):
moved on from that.
Kristen (15:58):
only had one, but we
took them separately.
Paige (16:01):
We had a, guest book in
our bathroom that I wish we
could find.
Can't locate it now.
We tried to find it before thisso we could tell you some of the
stuff it said,
Amber (16:07):
anytime we had friends
over.
They could sign our guest bookwhile they were using our
restroom.
Paige (16:12):
And I would love to go
back and look at that and see
what's in there.
but we can't find it.
Kristen (16:16):
always friends or in
your partying times where
there's sometimes people you maynot have known as well?
Well, at your place
Paige (16:25):
Well, there may have been
a time or two where we were
driving home and saw people inthe apartment complex and said,
Hey.
Amber (16:33):
Come over.
Do you guys wanna come over?
Yeah, we're gonna have somedrinks tonight.
I'm sure there were probablysignatures in there where I may
or may not remember.
Yeah,
Paige (16:40):
probably
Amber (16:41):
Mm-hmm.
Kristen (16:42):
So what apartment
stories would you like to share
with our listeners?
Paige (16:46):
Amber named our
apartment, what did we name it
now?
She named it number seven, getMoney and she would check into
our apartment.
Amber (16:52):
Oh yeah.
Because you know, like onFacebook that makes more sense
though, what you said last
Paige (16:55):
night.
Amber (16:56):
Okay.
Because on Facebook you couldcreate your own location to
check into.
That was a cool thing when weused to check in.
I remember that.
So we don't do that anymore, Iguess.
But we checked into our ownplace and then we'd tell our
friends to check in as well.
Kristen (17:11):
Does it still show up
as a location on Facebook and
can you still see the check-inson it?
I don't know.
Paige (17:16):
That is a good question.
Kristen (17:17):
interesting to look at.
Yeah.
And if whoever moved into itkept up the tradition, oh, that
would be excellent.
I hope they did.
I hope they did.
All right, so aside frompartying, what other experiences
did you have when you're livingtogether?
And the reason I'm asking thisis because a lot of people will
say.
Even the best of friendshipsonce you live with somebody,
(17:37):
you're not friends after that.
So I'm curious, you guyssurvived all of that?
Was there ever any question orany issues you had with each
other or tips you could give topromising living situations with
a friend?
Paige (17:50):
Honestly, our apartment
was really small and it was
still super easy to livetogether we also worked a lot.
we were at work every single dayduring the week, and then we had
drill one weekend a month, so wereally weren't there that much.
we were, 20 and 24, I think.
We were hardly ever there if wewere there, we were hanging out
or sleeping.
I don't remember a time where itwas ever difficult.
Amber (18:13):
I don't think so either.
Paige (18:14):
We didn't really cook, so
we didn't fight over dishes or
anything.
Amber (18:17):
our meals were always
Takeout there was one night
where I was like, I'm gonna makespaghetti squash or an
artichoke.
And she's like, you're weird.
Like, what are you feeding us?
We ate it.
Paige (18:26):
It was good.
Amber (18:28):
That was the one meal
Paige (18:30):
we ever made.
Chicken nachos.
We made chicken nachos a coupletimes.
Cy Sauce, Cy.
Amber (18:35):
Yep.
We love that.
That was like a staple.
Paige (18:38):
that, we
Amber (18:38):
either didn't eat or eat
fast
Paige (18:40):
food probably,
Amber (18:41):
I'm pretty unorganized,
so my room was probably always a
mess, but I don't feel like itever Became an issue.
'cause it's a small space whenyou're in an apartment.
Mm-hmm.
we were messy.
I was gonna ask
Kristen (18:50):
if one of you was more
cluttery or cleaner.
Amber (18:54):
Oh yeah.
No, that's me.
I'm still a mess, so, yeah.
You know, it's fine.
But that's okay because she kepther
Paige (19:01):
clutter in her own room.
mainly just clothes, shoes.
It was really nice to haveanother closet to look at.
We shared clothes.
We still say that we wish ourhouses could be connected so we
can share clothes too.
Amber (19:13):
in a dream scenario, We
would have like two houses built
together and there would belike.
Hallway that connected us andthat would just be our closet
that we shared.
Kristen (19:22):
closet.
Amber (19:22):
that was the one.
Kristen (19:23):
love that idea.
Like joining piece, one of youwould have clothes and shoes on
one side and the other one onthe other side, but you could go
through and Mix and match andpick and choose what you wanted
to wear.
That was really nice.
I forgot about that.
Yeah, we
Amber (19:33):
definitely shared
closets.
Kristen (19:35):
So we make it through
BMT, we make it through living
together.
And now we've moved on and we'regetting married and pregnant.
is this the part of the storywe're at now?
Amber (19:44):
Well, it was before we
moved out of the apartment.
I don't remember how far intoour lease,'cause we were only
there one year.
Mm-hmm.
Paige (19:53):
Well, we moved in in
January.
And I found out in October.
So 10 months.
Amber (19:57):
After 10 months.
Paige is like, I have somethingto tell you.
And I was like, she tells meshe's pregnant.
Kristen (20:04):
Ah.
Amber (20:04):
And I was like,
Kristen (20:05):
you kidding
Amber (20:06):
I was mad because this
ruins all of our friendship
plans.
Kristen (20:08):
Takes away your
partying time for sure.
Amber (20:10):
what are we gonna do?
Way to go Paige.
Paige (20:12):
ruined everything.
Amber (20:15):
It was exactly two weeks
later.
to the calendar day.
It was two weeks later and I'mlike, Paige.
Kristen (20:25):
See, I was joking about
you guys having a pregnancy
pact, but this supports mytheory.
You guys made it happentogether?
Amber (20:32):
Yeah, so something was in
the water in
Kristen (20:34):
our apartments,
definitely something
Paige (20:36):
in the water
Kristen (20:36):
had to be his cycle
Amber (20:37):
We were Syed, it was the
sink.
Two weeks later I told Paige thesame thing that I was pregnant
and I was like, okay, well.
Then it became exciting I thinkwhen we, yeah.
So you said that was Octoberwhen we both were,
Paige (20:53):
that was October.
Kristen (20:54):
Mm-hmm.
See,'cause if I know, I couldhave gotten in on this pregnancy
pact you guys, because I wassurprised in July of 2012 that I
was pregnant, so, oh, wow.
Yeah.
So I started it.
You guys were just, you know, wewere doing it together.
We just didn't, just did, youdidn't know it yet.
But we were gonna be joiningstories down the road.
I know.
And we will get there.
(21:15):
But first.
Mm-hmm.
All so you guys get pregnant.
Paige (21:18):
Honestly, it wasn't
exciting at the beginning.
it's a scary time when it's notplanned.
Like yeah, it was scary, it wasstressful, Amber had a stable
situation and I didn't, so Ifelt like she was gonna leave me
she was going to live in a houseand I didn't know what I was
doing.
I had to go find another leasewith another friend and it was
(21:40):
really sad, honestly.
Amber (21:41):
And it's funny though,
when you say that, I wouldn't
have described it the same wayeither.
my relationship was still fairlynew.
Kristen (21:47):
Mm-hmm.
Amber (21:47):
So, even though it may
have appeared stable, it was
still new and uncertain.
we had only been, Terry and Ihad only been together.
Three months.
We had met in July, the end ofJuly.
Paige (21:58):
Yeah.
Amber (21:59):
So it was very new and it
was like, if this doesn't work
out, obviously you're not hopingfor that, but it was new.
And then when she moved in withanother friend, I was like, I
don't want you living withanother friend.
It was just like, scoot over,then I'll move in with you and
Jerry.
Kristen (22:11):
you could share closets
if you'd done that.
Yeah.
Well, you guys didn't move intogether then, but you are still
kind of doing life together.
can we shift and talk about thatand how close the boys have been
all these years and how you'remaking it work now later in your
life?
Let's talk about what's goingon.
Well, the boys
Paige (22:30):
were born two weeks
apart.
Mm-hmm.
Exactly.
Just like when you guys foundout.
So everybody's on time.
Good job.
Yeah.
Yep.
We did it.
Amber was there when both mykids were born.
Like she was in the room.
She was like the other person.
our boys have always, been superclose and we talk about how we
would force them to be friends,but thankfully we haven't had to
(22:51):
make them.
They've just naturally, even if,they were previously in school
together, they've playedmultiple sports together.
They dance together.
Now they don't necessarily haveas many, you know, connections,
but they still wanna remainfriends and want to hang out.
Mm-hmm.
Amber (23:07):
They talk, they wanna
talk to each other.
and cool story too.
They also got baptized together.
They chose that together now,like since they've been, and we
didn't make them,
Paige (23:16):
we've told them.
Amber (23:17):
Yeah.
They were both kind of talkingabout it around the same time We
had told them our story, and Ithink they thought like, well,
that would be cool too, youknow?
Mm-hmm.
It's pretty neat.
And they just, you know, they'rejust buddies.
They've always have been andthey think it's cool too.
Like I love going back andshowing them some of their old
pictures and stuff whenever theywere little together
Kristen (23:37):
Oh, it's adorable.
Cute.
The one with their little bowties or whatever
Paige (23:40):
so adorable.
Cute.
I think that was, was that ourfirst mother son dance?
Yeah, I think it was.
That was fun.
Yeah, they're sweet.
I love watching them grow up.
They're cute.
Kristen (23:51):
So cute.
do you think that the friendshipthat you both have has laid a
foundation for them?
Like they, see how you guys arewith each other and emulate
that?
do you think if you both hadn'tbeen friends and they had just
found each other in theclassroom, do you think they
still would've connected?
Paige (24:08):
I do.
I think they're very similar.
They're both very sweet andsensitive and smart, and they
have a lot of the same interestsBay Blades was a huge thing for
them for a long time.
Pokemon cards was a huge thingfor them for a long time.
They've played the same sports?
Just because they have similarpersonalities, for sure.
Amber (24:29):
I think they still
would've been buddies for sure.
they would've made us all befriends as moms.
Yeah.
For sure.
Kristen (24:35):
Well, and that's a fun
story too.
So we've been talking about yourfriendship, but listeners may be
wondering how do I even know youguys and how do I fit into the
story?
So it's because of the boys.
Amber's son and my son were in.
First grade together.
it was the Halloween party andwe had volunteered to, be the
helping parents we show up andthose are always so nerve
(24:57):
wracking because I feel like,especially the school district
we're at a lot of people, likePaige grew up in that school
district and a lot of theirfriends are all moms now.
So I always felt so weird at theparties'cause all the parents
are already friends and I'm justkind of like there.
So Amber shows up in her littlemilitary outfit and I'm like,
oh, she looks really nice.
Amber and I end up working thesame little booth and we're
(25:18):
making punch with dry ice Spriteand Sherbert and we don't know
what we're doing, but we'redoing it so well.
And turns out, where I work, shehad friends that work there and
we had mutual friends.
she said that she knew peoplethat worked with me.
I'm like, that's cool.
Fast forward to February.
Mother Sundance as youmentioned.
I'm excited to see my new friendAmber there again with her son
(25:39):
and she's like, oh, you have tomeet my friend Paige.
she tells me Paige's full nameand I'm like, Paige, so and so.
I'm like, I think she works withme.
Mm-hmm.
Turns out Paige, for severalyears I think, or at least a few
years I've been working.
Right across the hall from me atwork, and we just never knew
each other.
I'd heard her name, but I didn'tknow her.
So through Amber I met Paige,and now Paige and I have been
(26:03):
even more friends.
We walk at work now.
Mm-hmm.
We have sushi squad.
Oh yeah.
We hang out a whole bunch.
our boys all dance together.
Mm-hmm.
So, it's just been fun.
Me coming in On a late point inyour friendship and kind of
forcing myself to be yourfriend.
Oh.
you didn't have to do that.
We just naturally
Amber (26:20):
became friends.
Kristen (26:21):
So it is cute how, all
the roads have kind, and it was
part of your pregnancy pack too.
We just didn't even know it.
just didn't know it.
Yeah.
it all worked out.
So what other stories would youlike to share?
Paige (26:32):
after Amber left me for
Terry, they ended up moving to
my hometown Where they live now,This house, it's like we just
kept getting reconnected.
Not that we ever disconnected.
We've talked about this, we'venever really strayed, but it's
like the world Keeps us doingthings that keep us together,
you know, bootcamp kids and thenher moving and then we both lost
(26:55):
really close people from thesame disease the same year.
Amber lost her mama.
Your mom?
Mm-hmm.
Who did?
And my grandma.
My mom's mom.
Oh,
Amber (27:03):
okay.
Paige (27:03):
Mm-hmm.
Amber (27:04):
Yeah.
So we had to go through that Somany people have experienced, I
feel like almost everyone nowprobably knows somebody that's
been through the cancer battle.
But until you're actually goingthrough it, you just don't know
what it's gonna be like, Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
it was just like one thing afteranother and like big things.
(27:24):
it wasn't just little thingsthat we went through,
Paige (27:27):
Then it was her wedding.
I met Corey right after herwedding, and then she was in
mine.
Amber (27:32):
So we did all the big
things, you know, together.
Kristen (27:35):
But you also do the
little things together too?
We do.
We do.
And I think that even how yourfriendship started on that
trauma note of everything, Ithink that made it so you guys
were already bonded in a way forwhen any tragedy or any kind of
trouble came that you alreadyhad that solid basis of the
foundation.
To handle whatever came to you.
And I think it's beautiful howyou have had each other and
(27:57):
while nobody wants to experiencedeath.
At the same time, to be able toshare that journey within
similar time period and to alsoshare birth stories around the
same time, like you guys have,it's a beautiful friendship I
think so many people would bejealous of or wish to have a
friendship like what you guyshave.
(28:19):
So what advice would you offerpeople who want to have those
longstanding friendships?
what have you found that haskept.
The friendship close, how do youguys make it work?
Because you do, you both have,you know, your different work,
your different family.
What, what do you do to make itlast?
Paige (28:38):
I would say plan.
you have to be intentional aboutmaking.
Intent.
Intentional.
New word.
Intentional.
Able to be Intentional.
Yeah.
Intentional about making planswith people you wanna spend time
with.
And if that means look at yourcalendar and find a day next
month, that's fine, but youstill have to make it work.
(28:59):
Because like you said, we bothhave jobs, kids, spouses, pets
vacations and extended families,and you just have to.
Fit it in where you can.
Honestly, if that just meanslike have a coffee together or
go on a walk or go to a comedyshow or whatever, we can, we
just make it happen.
Amber (29:21):
Yeah, and I would just
say also to other friendships
out there, give each other alittle grace.
we do know that we're busy Idon't ever worry that, if I
don't talk to Paige this weekshe's gonna be mad at me we get
that life is lifeing.
give your friend a little graceand be there, if Paige needs
something and she picks up thatphone and needs me, I'm gonna be
there.
You still have to, show up inthe moments where you need each
(29:43):
other.
but in the everyday stuff, it'sokay if we don't, stay connected
every single day.
Kristen (29:50):
Yeah.
Amber (29:51):
Mm-hmm.
Kristen (29:52):
I love that.
All right, so I had some rapidfire questions for you, ohoh.
All right.
Because of some things you'vesaid already, I think I know
some of the answers.
who's more likely to show uplate?
Amber (30:05):
Me,
Kristen (30:05):
Amber.
Amber (30:06):
Mm-hmm.
Kristen (30:06):
Which funny story,
Amber was at my house first
tonight,
Amber (30:10):
Well, to be fair, we did
say you guys change the time, so
we were gonna start earlier.
That's true.
Technically we kept at theregular, I've been here
Paige (30:16):
I looked at the clock
when I pulled in the driveway.
Jeff might have stalled me alittle bit before I walked
through the front door, but Idefinitely parked at seven 30.
Kristen (30:25):
All right, who
remembers birthdays better?
Paige (30:29):
Like each other's
birthdays
Kristen (30:31):
Yeah.
Or kids' birthdays.
Like who's, I feel like who'sbetter with it?
Paige (30:33):
we both are pretty good
with that.
Kristen (30:34):
We both win.
All right.
let's see.
We've already talked about who'sthe cluttery one, so, okay.
if you can share your mosticonic inside joke or memory.
Do we have one?
I don't know.
What about Uhoh Beef jerky?
(30:55):
What?
She said beef jerky.
Paige (30:59):
I don't know
Kristen (30:59):
it can't be an inside
joke if you're the only one that
knows it.
Paige so scared.
She definitely knows it.
You don't remember?
I dunno.
Now we all need to know what thejoke is.
Paige (31:11):
the time we woke up
Amber (31:12):
It looked like we robbed
a Casey's gas station.
Paige (31:16):
I have no idea how
Amber (31:17):
it got there.
I don't, I dunno.
I do remember.
I remember, but I don't, youknow, like, so there was a night
where obviously we had beendrinking and I'm assuming.
We went to get snacks.
Paige (31:32):
So did you purchase
Amber (31:34):
the
Paige (31:34):
snacks?
We don't know.
Amber (31:36):
we don't know where the
jerky came from.
and I don't know if anyone elsewas there when we woke up.
And it wasn't like
Paige (31:43):
unopened beef jerky like
Slim Jims I can't imagine we
could have afforded that likebeef jerk.
He is not cheap.
Right.
And we did not have money.
If you could have a bag of JackSlinks, it's like$10.
We didn't buy it.
I don't know where it came from,but it was her.
Amber (32:05):
That's really all I got.
I know it's not much, Well, wehad,'cause that was a lot of
our, like pre, pre kids Andmarriage and stuff was just us
kind of partying So we had somewild nights.
I remember one night,
Paige (32:19):
oh, the door,
Amber (32:21):
I woke up and went out
and the front door was wide open
Paige (32:26):
I,
Amber (32:28):
I don't remember where
you were.
Were you on the futon?
Paige (32:31):
Yes.
Amber (32:32):
Which was our couch, by
the way.
That was just our futon.
I think she was out there and Ithink there was maybe one shoe.
outside the door.
Paige (32:40):
I dunno.
But the door was completelyopen.
It slept on the couch, which isright next to the front door.
Like you could see me from theoutside.
Amber (32:47):
He just was looking.
Paige (32:48):
he really was.
Amber (32:49):
course for a bit,
Paige (32:50):
but yeah, we're back.
Amber (32:51):
we had our moments.
all of it's part of the journey.
Kristen (32:54):
Speaking of journey,
dream girls trip destination.
where would you definitely wannago together?
Amber (33:01):
I don't know if we have a
specific City or place, but I
would say we would both wanna gosomewhere where it's like
peaceful.
Yeah.
Like with parks, like nationalparks or Place we could go hike
and find coffee
Paige (33:15):
Washington State or
Wyoming.
Yeah.
The Pacific Northwest.
Amber (33:20):
Yeah.
Somewhere out in nature.
For sure.
Nothing crazy.
Like back in the day I might'vebeen like, oh, let's go to New
York, or somewhere just crazy.
And I would not choose that.
Paige (33:31):
I wouldn't
Kristen (33:31):
choose that
Amber (33:32):
Mm-hmm.
Kristen (33:34):
Would you fly or road
trip?
Amber (33:36):
I would prefer road trip,
but what would you say, Paige?
Paige (33:40):
I could do either.
It depends on how much time wehave.
Kristen (33:43):
I've gotta tell you,
Amber One of my life goals right
now is I wanna take Amtrakacross the country.
I've watched a bunch of YouTubevideos.
My husband makes fun of me forthis because trains are so nerdy
or I'm gonna die.
It's one of those things, hedoesn't like it, but they have
this one and it goes fromChicago all the way to
California.
It's the California Zephyr andit goes through Colorado, Utah.
(34:03):
the sites you see from what I'veseen on YouTube are absolutely
beautiful.
And I think it would be so funto just take a train trip across
America and see things differentfrom what everybody else sees.
I just think it's one of mygoals in life.
Since my husband won't let me goalone, I'm looking for people to
go on my train trip with me.
Amber (34:19):
I'll go with you.
I think that would be so muchfun.
Wouldn't that be fun?
Yeah, that would be really fun.
That would be great.
You just get to see so much, you
Kristen (34:26):
Yeah.
And especially going through thewest, like over the mountains
and the past and the water andthe wildlife.
You can see again according toYouTube.
which I think is legit.
So, oh my gosh.
Train trip.
Sign us up.
We'll go somewhere quiet.
We'll be there like it.
Right.
We're gonna make it happen.
So with that, we're almost done,but to wrap up, is there
anything you wanna share aboutwhat this friendship has meant
(34:49):
to you?
Anything you'd wanna say to eachother?
Paige (35:01):
Why is
Amber (35:01):
this the part where we're
freezing
Paige (35:02):
I dunno.
it caught us off guard, I guess.
we grew up together.
There is a very small age gap.
we definitely grew up togetherand we've had each other through
all the seasons, and I'm supergrateful for that.
the things that we've beenthrough have shown we'll be fine
no matter what.
I've never worried about that.
Amber (35:17):
we've been through some
of the hardest things people may
go through their entire life.
You know, that we've beenthrough together, so yeah.
I mean, I'm just grateful.
I feel like we've maybe thrownthe term around like low
maintenance, but I feel like ourfriendship, it doesn't, I know
sometimes people feel likefriendship.
can be really difficult, but Ifeel like, it just kind of
works.
It just kind of flows and weneed that.
(35:37):
We don't need another thing tobe worried about.
Kristen (35:39):
sure.
Amber (35:39):
more stressed about the
fact that we just kind of can
rely on each other and havethat.
Friendship together and it justbe one of the easier things.
In life.
life is not easy.
Kristen (35:50):
But it is when you have
a friend like you have in each
other.
For sure.
Well, Amber Paige, I wanna thankyou both.
I know it's not easycoordinating everybody's
schedules, but I am so glad youboth made the time to come over
and share this, I love yourfriendship.
I think it's an example forother people who want to have
that easy, low maintenance, butalways someone in their corner
(36:11):
story.
thank you so much for coming andsharing your story, and I'm sure
we'll be talking to you bothabout different things along the
way.
Thank you.
Amber (36:18):
thank you for having us.
This was so much fun.