Leisa: 00:01

Hey, besties. My name is Lisa.

Tamara: 00:03

And my name is Tamara, and we're BFFs.

Leisa: 00:06

Tamara and I met when we were about 12 years old growing up in good old Fairbanks, Alaska.

Tamara: 00:11

And we've been best friends forever since.

Leisa: 00:13

That's right. And that's why we've decided to have some fun, friendly conversations with the bestest of best friends.

Tamara: 00:18

We'll talk about how we became best friends, our experiences together, and have other best friends on the show to share how they met. Who knows? You never

Leisa: 00:27

know when you'll meet your next BFF.

Tamara: 00:30

Now, let's get into it, how I met my BFF.

Leisa: 00:34

Welcome to another episode of How I Met My BFF. Hello, Tamara.

Tamara: 00:40

Hello, Lisa. How are you?

Leisa: 00:43

I am good. I had a little bit of an exciting week this week. Well, lots of things. But our town, Rancho Santa Margarita, made national and, I think, international news. I I don't know.

Leisa: 00:58

But there was a huge fire that is still happening, but I would say Monday and we have a lot of fires in California right now, and, our guests might even be affected as well. But it was literally, like, right outside our our city gates, if you will. Not gates is the right word, but borders. And some people were evacuated. Even today, they are trying to figure out if the roads are open, if they can get into their homes.

Leisa: 01:24

They've been out of their homes all week. But, luckily, there were no homes in our area that were lost. The fires are still being fought, but, they just did an amazing job of of protecting the community with, like, the fire retardant. We've got, like, airplanes going all week long, dropping whatever magical stuff that they drop to to save everybody and to and to preserve everything. So it was definitely, like, my Facebook feed was full of inferno.

Leisa: 01:56

I I will say that is not normal. And it's pretty freaky. Like, I and I know you've had your own experience with fire, Tamara. So, yeah. So that was definitely exciting, although not the exciting that I want.

Leisa: 02:15

But it was definitely happening. How about you? Because I know you're you're you're affected by fires too, but not in that way right now.

Tamara: 02:25

Yeah. I mean, kind of we weren't it's not right at our well, it's about an hour south of here, but, we also have been inundated with fires not only in Montana, but all around from Canada to California. Yeah. And it's been hard, this past week. We would probably have the most beautiful September weather ever, and it's literally you can't even see the mountains around Missoula because it's so smoky.

Tamara: 02:53

So that's been really frustrating and hard, and it's making people not feel good and be grumpy. So, unfortunately, we also or I've also had to deal with fire issues, not, like, on the verge of evacuation, but, scary. The fires are getting worse and worse, it seems. You know, I've been in Montana now for 18 years, and it's just it's hard because, natural. You know?

Tamara: 03:22

It's the world we live in now, I guess. But fires are scary because you don't always get a bunch of notice. You try, but it can be hard. So And then what

Leisa: 03:33

besides fires, what else have you been doing? You've been out, in the vineyard or no? Not so much this yet?

Tamara: 03:41

The grapes are ripening. We probably are gonna do a harvest of one of our varieties next week, so that'll be fun. And then it looks like end of September, beginning of October, we'll do the full harvest at the vineyard. So that's exciting. We've had, as of right now, even with the smoke and lack of full sunlight, we're having some nice, sugars in our grapes.

Tamara: 04:04

So very exciting. Yeah.

Leisa: 04:07

I don't even know what any of that means, but it sounds good. You could write a book on wine on wine vineyard making, harvesting, all the things.

Tamara: 04:17

It's important for your the wine you like we like to drink. Come on, Lisa.

Leisa: 04:22

I don't I don't know the intricacies of these. I just drink the wine. I'm really, really good at that. I'm really, really good at that. Yeah.

Leisa: 04:29

And on a lighter note, I, hopefully, everyone listening is safe. But, I also had a really, really fun e women networking meeting yesterday, and I, was in a position to where I was leading the meeting for the first time because our fearless leader, was unavailable that month or but we had a really fun time. And so that was that was cool. I was surrounded by 40 awesome entrepreneurial women yesterday. So

Sheila Andres: 04:58

Oh, wow.

Leisa: 04:59

Speaking of amazing entrepreneurial women, one of our our guests today is Sheila Andres. Hey, Sheila. Welcome to the show.

Sheila Andres: 05:08

Hello. Hello. I know it's audio, but I'm shaking a little bit.

Leisa: 05:11

Yeah. I'm gonna dance.

Sheila Andres: 05:12

It's Friday.

Leisa: 05:14

I almost said, oh oh, Sheila. Yep. Anyway, so so excited to have you on the show. And I know you were gonna share about your beautiful friend, Sharon, and your relationship with Sharon. Do you wanna give us a little highlight of how you and Sharon met?

Sheila Andres: 05:37

Yeah. No. I really appreciate this opportunity because, it's a time where it's really an epic moment, I think. So my best friend is Sharon Santos. It's been 20 years, this year of her death anniversary.

Sheila Andres: 06:00

And, you know, I think back, she unfortunately didn't make it to 31, you know. And as the years go by, her sister, there's only 2 of them and I I only have one sister so we have that in common. She celebrates her birthday every year at her favorite restaurant to kinda honor her. And she just reminds that last year, she turned 50. You know, this year is the 20th death anniversary.

Sheila Andres: 06:26

I feel like she did 1 15. But you hear these numbers and you're like, oh my gosh. Time has gone by so fast. And that question, like, how did I meet Sharon? I was like, I I feel like I don't even remember.

Sheila Andres: 06:39

Yeah. But, what I will say is but what does come to me is I I think I met her through a mutual friend because we didn't go to the same school at all. But I do know when we met, we hit it off so well. We exchanged numbers. I might be aging myself.

Sheila Andres: 06:56

So back in the day, there was no cell phones. They were just pagers.

Leisa: 07:01

Oh, pagers. Wow. Yeah.

Sheila Andres: 07:04

I'm not sure how we communicated, but, we exchanged numbers. And I had a car, and when she needed a ride home, she'd call me. So I drive out of the way to her school. She went to private school. I went to a public school.

Sheila Andres: 07:17

And I pick her up. And I think that that's really what grew and fostered the relationship because we've been in the car. And driving home, we chat, chit chat, always laughing and having a good time.

Leisa: 07:30

Wow. Now was this in high school? So, like, I you said you're driving, so maybe it was a 16, 15

Sheila Andres: 07:36

years old type. I was sitting there. I'm so embarrassed. I can't remember. The brain farts are real right now.

Sheila Andres: 07:45

They are so real. Yeah. But definitely definitely high school for sure.

Leisa: 07:49

Yeah. When did you feel like it became just different from meeting someone and hitting it off to now we're best friends or we're in this best friend type of a relationship. What was that like for you?

Sheila Andres: 08:03

You know, so I have a lot of friends, and then there's some that I still stay in contact with from high school. They're they, over time, they turn into BFFs. But there's always that 1 or 2 people that really stand out, and I feel like it's one of those undeniable connections. Mhmm. You know, it's like she'll call me, says I need a ride.

Sheila Andres: 08:25

And even though it felt like out of the way, it's like, no. I gotta get her. She's my girl. You know? And so I would pick her up, and then the conversation was so natural.

Sheila Andres: 08:35

We just start shooting a breeze talking about anything and everything. And I was just reminiscing about this because I sat there thinking, I don't remember laughing so much laughing so much with someone in my entire life. So when, and, Except when Sharon was around. You know? I laughed a lot when I was younger.

Sheila Andres: 08:58

But when I think about it, I'm like, wow. We're laughing all the time. We're laughing all the time. So I think that was it. Just natural connection, jabbing all the way, having a really good time, and it felt like always so good to see each other.

Sheila Andres: 09:15

You know?

Leisa: 09:16

Yeah. What how did you maintain your friendship beyond the high school and and into adulthood?

Sheila Andres: 09:25

You know, it's crazy because Sharon was like this little nomad. You know, you couldn't you couldn't, like, tame her or keep her down. And she's this tiny little thing. I mean, she's, like, 4 foot 11, and she's like this ball of fire that would just go everywhere. And I remember even after high school, she moved out to Florida to go to Embry Riddle.

Sheila Andres: 09:46

After that, she did research and did internship out in Hawaii, wanted to travel all the time. She flew out of a she flew out of a freaking plane.

Leisa: 09:59

Like like parachuting, you mean?

Sheila Andres: 10:01

Yes. She didn't even tell me. She took a video, this little thing. Because I'm just gonna fly out a plane today. You know, I took flying lessons.

Sheila Andres: 10:09

But I think the keeping in touch, I feel like I hear this a lot with best friends. You know, when you have that undeniable connection, doesn't matter where you go, how much time has passed. You pick up the phone, you chat, it's like you just kinda picked up where, you know, you left off. And, with Sharon, you know, sitting there thinking about it, I think she is the only person that I remember where it felt like we just needed to let each other know the minute by minute replay of our life. So 3 days went by, I might call her and she's like, oh my gosh, Sheila.

Sheila Andres: 10:48

It's 3 days. And I'm like, I know. And then it was a replay, play by play of, you know, what went on, what we ate for breakfast, you know, my stomach hurts.

Leisa: 11:01

Well, it's it's there's something powerful about someone witnessing you. Right? Like, of just and and being there to say, oh, these things are important or I wanna hear what what's going on in your life and that not everyone is gonna wanna know that. Right? Just the people that that love us the most, wanna know those inform that that part of our life.

Leisa: 11:22

Wow.

Sheila Andres: 11:23

No. And it's crazy that you even said that because this morning, I don't know what came to me, but her birthday is on November 2nd. You know, I just did a little filming because your sister wanted to honor her. But I think it's about, you know, remembering her memory and stuff. And then I sat there going, you know, there's 2 things that stood out which kinda connected with what you're saying.

Sheila Andres: 11:48

You know, I I know how she thought of me and how much she loved me and vice versa. But it's different when you hear it from other people. And what came to me was, you know, when Sandy would introduce me, she would always say something like, oh, yeah. This is Sharon's best friend. And she's like, Sheila, you could do no wrong.

Sheila Andres: 12:08

You you could do no wrong. You know? And, I've heard it, but it just seems to linger. And I sat there thinking, wow, what a testament of kind of unconditional love. Mhmm.

Sheila Andres: 12:22

Because that's really why she was my best friend. I I couldn't do any wrong. Even if I did something stupid, she'd still love me. You know what I mean? We could crack jokes about it.

Sheila Andres: 12:32

She could check my butt. You know, it might hurt a little bit, but it'd be like, okay, fine. That was a hard booty spank, but I'll take it, you know.

Leisa: 12:42

That you know is coming from love and from her wanting the best for you. Right?

Sheila Andres: 12:47

Yeah. Yeah.

Leisa: 12:49

What would you say are her 3 like, the three things you love most about her?

Sheila Andres: 12:58

I think that was the biggest thing, you know, just sitting here kinda reminiscing. You know, I have this person that just accepts me for who who I am. And, you know, I'm I'm an entrepreneur. You know, I meet a lot of women, and it's this journey where we're just trying to step into really authenticity, our truth, and who we are. You know?

Sheila Andres: 13:17

And I didn't even realize growing up in high school, I was just wanting to be me. You know? I never felt so free to be me, until I'm around Sharon. I mean, it's not the she's not the only one. When I think about it, I never had to fake it.

Sheila Andres: 13:35

I've never had to put up a facade or feel anything different. You know? So I think that would be one of my favorite things. I just got to be me. It was more than enough.

Sheila Andres: 13:46

Number 2, oh my God, we we'd laugh so much. I remember I'd go to her house one time. This is a story we cannot let down and die. I just showed up. We're hanging out in a room.

Sheila Andres: 13:57

We're laughing. We're telling all these stories. She goes, Sheila, I gotta go and get some water. I'll be back. I'm like, okay.

Sheila Andres: 14:02

She walks out. Her mom and grandmother are sitting there watching TV. And she goes, oh, mom. Sheila's here. She's like, okay.

Sheila Andres: 14:10

She's like, and who else? And she goes, just Sheila. And her mom was like, just Sheila? She goes, yeah. Why?

Sheila Andres: 14:17

She goes, I thought you had 10 people in there. So we were just chatting. And, I mean, I was there for a few hours, but was, like, laughter from the beginning till the end when I left. And I think the third one is, you know, I look at her life. I I realized when she passed why she did so many things.

Sheila Andres: 14:37

I mean, she painted. She got into crystals and stones. You know? She created jewelry. She did arts and crafts.

Sheila Andres: 14:47

She traveled. You know, she would drag me to places, Ensenada, whatever. Gave me reason to go hit Florida and Embry Riddle. I mean, she was always moving and shaking. You know?

Sheila Andres: 14:57

And I sat there going, this is how you live life, you know, on, like, on this constant adventure. And she always felt like she had to keep moving and going. And when I look back, I'm like, well, it kinda makes sense because, if your time isn't short, there's this maybe a natural angst to just do everything that your heart desired or wanted to do. And she did it. She's like, I'm gonna learn how to fly a plane.

Sheila Andres: 15:22

I'm like, can you even see above that dash here? You know, how many how many pillows does it does the chair rise for you? She was so tiny maneuvering this humongous vehicle or, you know, equipment or ship, whatever you want, plane. And then, like, flying out of an airplane and just grabbing me and letting you fall. Like, who does that?

Sheila Andres: 15:45

I can't even think about bungee jumping.

Leisa: 15:48

Right. Wow. Did she was she, not well? Like, what is that did she feel like her time was limited or you just are looking back thinking,

Sheila Andres: 15:59

you know, I think, like, all of us, we all long for a companion in life and relationships, and so she would have them. And, you know, they just never lasted. Mhmm. You know, we would wonder, and I just thought, you know, listen. You just haven't found your soulmate.

Sheila Andres: 16:16

You know, but when I look back, I realize, oh. Because maybe her time wasn't meant to be here that long. And, you know, unfortunately, it wasn't an illness. It was one of those CSI tragedy type of things that you never would think would happen. So it was very shocking.

Sheila Andres: 16:36

But her sister called me one day saying, you know, have you talked to Sharon? And, apparently, they they chat every single day through through, was that Messenger when it was just still kinda coming out? I forgot what app they were using.

Leisa: 16:51

Like Yahoo Messenger or something like that.

Sheila Andres: 16:53

AOL or Yeah. Exactly. But they, you know, they were so close. They were the only 2 sisters, but they chat every single day. And I actually did I mean, she would tell me, Sandy and I talked I didn't realize every day, but that was that was kind of the red flag because they they connect every morning right before work started.

Sheila Andres: 17:09

And I think after 3 days, Sandy reached out. She's like, I haven't heard from Sharon. You know? And, unfortunately, she was, she was abducted, you know, by the maintenance guy and the apartment that she lived at, and, they found her, like, 2 weeks later.

Leisa: 17:30

Yeah. Very scary.

Sheila Andres: 17:33

Yeah.

Leisa: 17:37

That must have been really shocking and and devastating to everyone who knew her.

Sheila Andres: 17:44

You know, I don't think I don't think, anyone thinks about preparing anyone for something like this, let alone death. I mean, we don't talk about burial sites and all that. We don't wanna think about any of that or getting sick or so forth. I mean, they might talk about it, but not to the depth of it. So, you know, when it happened, yeah, I mean, I dove head into the whole grieving process and was completely shock and denial.

Sheila Andres: 18:20

And I I know I had gone off and personally apologized to the sister and the mom because in the beginning, I really wasn't there. I wasn't I wasn't there. And I think subconsciously, I just felt like if I show up or I'm there, then this whole thing, this horrible news would be true.

Leisa: 18:48

Yeah.

Sheila Andres: 18:48

And it just can't be. It can't be because we're supposed to grow old together. Yeah. I'm not sure how to do life without her. You know, we talk about that inner critic or that negative voice, you know, on you, but she was my cheerleader.

Sheila Andres: 19:06

You know? And, I don't I don't even really know how to explain the she was my soulmate. I'll I'll tell you that because when she ended up passing, I literally felt this huge pain in my heart and just crying, crying. And, this was just in the beginning. They didn't know where she was, couldn't find her.

Sheila Andres: 19:31

But when you're so connected to somebody that closely, you know, there's that just energy, that bond, that intangible thing that you don't see, but it's so real. The love was real. We were totally best friends. We were connected, mind, heart, body, soul. I was like, you know, she was a guy, probably marry her, you know, type of thing.

Sheila Andres: 19:53

But, you know, when she passed, I I really I really felt it. You know? And then it was kind of awakening when you do something really really try to find her and so forth.

Leisa: 20:07

Yeah. That's that's it's interesting. You know, death is an interesting phenomenon because it's not all or I have found it's not the circumstances of the passing can really affect it's can really affect how we, I don't know, move forward or grieve. Like, it it's very unsettling in some ways. And in some ways, it can be very settling.

Leisa: 20:35

You know? And it doesn't mean it's not painful, but just the different circumstances can really be affect us in different ways. Yeah.

Sheila Andres: 20:47

You know, I'll I'll tell you so many lessons. You know? And it's just who you are and how how you take it. It took me a long time, I think, to accept that she was gone even though she was gone. I remember it was 15 years and her sister went through a big memorial thing again because we're like, we're in double digits, like 15.

Sheila Andres: 21:11

Like, it felt big. She wanna do something. So, they asked people to go and speak and she definitely earmarked a few people to come and say something. And, you know, I was one of them. And I I think that was the first time.

Sheila Andres: 21:24

I I I never really verbalized. You know, what I'm about to share was that I don't think I've allowed I did not allow myself to accept fully that she was gone. Because again, in doing that, it would, be real. And it was, what was the word that I used? It was, it was debilitating.

Sheila Andres: 21:49

I couldn't even I couldn't even get it out without my chest feeling like it was gonna explode. And I thought, oh my god. I have to breathe or my heart's gonna explode right now. But saying it was, I think, healing and therapeutic, you know, because it it needed to be accepted. But the truth is, I she's never really left.

Sheila Andres: 22:12

Mhmm. And, in her leaving, in so many ways, like, we don't know what we don't know. Oh my god. There's so much we don't know what we don't know. But we talk about, oh, look at Sharon's life.

Sheila Andres: 22:24

She really was a model. How do you live life? And I realized, well, I was living life really leaning on her to, find my courage when I needed it, you know, when I was feeling down to be the one to lift me up, to be my positive reinforcement or positive thinking, you know, when the negative thinking takes over. And, I think that was probably the hardest thing was how do I do this without her? Yeah.

Tamara: 22:57

Yeah. I mean, how did the loss of her, like, because of that? Like, do you feel it's affected your life moving forward? Like, you almost want to do certain things to make her proud, or, has it affected your life since then, you know, and how you choose to live your life?

Sheila Andres: 23:17

Tara, are you gonna make me cry? Sorry. No. I feel you.

Leisa: 23:23

You know,

Sheila Andres: 23:26

I I think that so what I would say about that is there were, like, there were times when you just kinda feel like you're on a low. And I used to remember just calling her. I would just tell her, like, it didn't matter. It wasn't about permission or anything. I just needed to vent it out.

Sheila Andres: 23:46

It felt so good and therapeutic for somebody to be able to hear you. But she wouldn't just listen. She wouldn't just listen. She would just sit there and love on me. She'd she'd love on me.

Sheila Andres: 24:00

And so, and it's not like there was other people that didn't love me. It's just everyone was so different and unique. And so she would love me in such a way that Sharon would. And it was like, how can I look at replacing that? But it was really saying, you know, understanding the depth of that love and that acceptance and whatnot.

Sheila Andres: 24:26

And, we don't think about that because I don't know what I don't know. But I know at some point in time, I just lost joy in my life. And it was around the time when I kinda left corporate and went into doing my own business, but this desire to just, I need to be me, I need to be free to be me. And there wasn't this mechanism that I think supported that that allowed me to navigate through life. And I just got to a juncture going, whatever I'm doing right now just isn't allowing me to to find that peace and joy in my life anymore.

Sheila Andres: 25:01

And so, I think in some way that affected because it was like, well, then how do how do I do it? But I would still hear Sharon. You know, sometimes I'll sit there and and I'll think about a memory and and then we're laughing again. The other thing is we always talk about how she lived her life. You know, it's easy to say, oh, look.

Sheila Andres: 25:22

She says I wanna fly a plane learn to fly a plane. She just did it. I mean, we know. Just do it. We know.

Sheila Andres: 25:29

You know, we we hear these things, but then for you to really take the words and walk it, it's just different. It's just different. And so it's I think I needed to learn how to walk again. You know? I would say that I naturally, can find confidence when I believe in something so powerfully, strongly.

Sheila Andres: 25:58

And when I'm in service, I feel completely unstoppable. Meaning, I don't think about myself and if I fumble or do that, which gets in the way. But if I sit there going, this beautiful soul needs something, and I feel like I could be valuable to them, I feel unstoppable. But there are moments when I have to do something and I get into my head I get all self conscious, you know, and all that stuff, and then, Sharon would kick that to the curb. All I had to do was call her and she would do that.

Sheila Andres: 26:34

But it was really going, well, what was it that she did that gave me what I needed? You know? So it was things like that. And then learning to live life. Well, Sharon lived life.

Sheila Andres: 26:45

We can all model that, but that was her. So how do I take that and bring that kind of fearless, desire for adventure? I'm not saying I'm fearless, but, you know, you get married, you have children, and all of a sudden, the responsibility kind of becomes an anchor. And then you don't realize, wow. I used to just get up and go, and I don't get up and go anymore.

Sheila Andres: 27:12

You know? So I hope in some way that kinda answered that question. I

Leisa: 27:18

was gonna ask you, what do you think Sharon would say are 3 things that she loves most about you?

Sheila Andres: 27:25

Oh, gosh.

Leisa: 27:37

I'm so sorry. It's okay. Well, see, I'll I'll help you. Probably, she would say that you would do no wrong. Right?

Leisa: 27:47

Because that's what she would we had already shared that And that you're loving.

Sheila Andres: 27:54

Thank you.

Leisa: 27:55

And that you're oh, I'm gonna cry too. Okay. They're catching. It's catching.

Sheila Andres: 28:01

Thank you.

Leisa: 28:03

And that you're joyful and light, you know, and you you know, that's why you guys have that spark of laughter.

Tamara: 28:08

Yeah. What a testament. Yeah. And how you know, considering you said it was almost 20 her 20 year anniversary is coming up and just remarkable to you know, she would be so proud that you are all still honoring her and remembering her. That's, I think, huge because, you know, it's as life goes on, sometimes, you know, people not that they forget, but have other priorities.

Tamara: 28:41

So I think that's beautiful that you all make a, make it possible to still, you know, work on remembering her and what she meant in your life.

Sheila Andres: 28:52

You know, honestly, it's crazy. She's she's really unforgettable. I think when we forget things, she's because we're just freaking getting old. I'm so OLD, and the brain farts are so real. And we try to do the best to hold on to them.

Sheila Andres: 29:07

You know? But it but what you can't forget is how she made you feel. You know? And it's it's crazy because the one thing that came to me when you say, what are the three things she would tell you? It brought me back to the last conversation, and I really wanna share this because it was such a gift.

Sheila Andres: 29:28

So she was missing around in August. The last time I saw her, my husband's birthday is August 3rd. So we had a a luncheon birthday celebration. So she showed up, and we spent the day together. And it was crazy because I do remember she was walking out the house, always the last to leave, and she I could tell, like, something was bothering her.

Sheila Andres: 29:52

And I said, what is it? So I had bought her this ring. I had bought it for, like, my close high school friends, and Sharon had, been, not in California at the time. But when she came back and moved back, I was like, I gotta get her one. It's just this little band and in in there in it was in great friends.

Sheila Andres: 30:13

Well, I gave it to her as a birthday present. She would wear it like religiously, so would I. And, she lost it. So she was walking out the door, and she just stood there like this little, like, lost child. And I'm like, what is it?

Sheila Andres: 30:29

And she's like, wouldn't say anything. But I knew. I'm like, just tell me. You it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.

Sheila Andres: 30:37

And then she told me, she was, I lost it. I'm like, what? She was the ring. I'm like, oh my god. I can buy you another one.

Sheila Andres: 30:43

Although, I couldn't because I went to the jewelry lady, and she only had so much. I'm like, you gotta find me one more of these because it was the way they they etched it, engraved the the thing. Anyways, it was unique. So I told her it was fine, and it felt like this relief because it was so important to her, and it was, like, important to me. And then the following weekend, she was leaving out of town with another friend and couple of mine.

Sheila Andres: 31:13

She was so excited when we were talking. And I literally when I speak to her, I I gotta I gotta leave. I gotta get my own space. And I walked away in that conversation. I promise you, I was sitting there talking to her going, you know, I'm so happy that you're going out and living life.

Sheila Andres: 31:32

I hope that you find excitement and, you know, potential for relationship here. But even on that weekend, all these things, and we were just talking, and she's sharing all this stuff. And it was almost like I don't know how to explain this, but we talk in the sense, like, she's gonna bring me with her, and I'm gonna be there too. But I was sitting there going we ended up, the conversation went to how much we ended up loving each other. You know, I was feeling so much joy and gratitude and appreciation.

Sheila Andres: 32:08

I just started to hug. You know, I honestly don't know how I'm gonna do this without you. I don't know how I'm gonna live life without you. You're so amazing. It's like, you know, she goes, I know.

Sheila Andres: 32:20

Blah blah blah. And she goes, it's like you're the voice in my head. I go, exactly. Everywhere I go, I can hear you. You know what I mean?

Sheila Andres: 32:28

And, I'm just so happy. You know, you gotta call me when you get back so we can catch up and, telling her how important she was, and all these good things. And I think bottom line, it was that was how important we were to each other. Life would be it was like, I don't know how my my life would be, like, so me like, meaningless or empty without you in it type of thing. And it was going I know, like, when I sit there and I think about it, I hear your voice in my you're the voice in my head, Sheila.

Sheila Andres: 33:05

I'm like, exactly. The other day I was doing this when I heard you going, stop it. You got this or you know what to do. So what was that? You're the voice in my head.

Sheila Andres: 33:15

You know, you're my life partner, and, there's no one else like you, you know, in the whole wide world. And I sat there thinking, woah, I feel like I'm saying goodbye to her. Like, what is this? You know what I mean? It's not like she's going anywhere.

Sheila Andres: 33:34

It's just a weekend trip. And after the fact and all that happened, I was extremely, extremely grateful for that opportunity to tell her how much I loved her, how much she meant to me. And I think it was if you ever imagine what it would be to say goodbye to somebody that important, I got that. And it was a gift. It was a gift.

Leisa: 34:01

Wow. Well, thank you so much for honoring her today and sharing about her and your beautiful friendship. I, I know that she is probably looking out for you at all times.

Sheila Andres: 34:20

I feel

Leisa: 34:22

her. Yeah. And, I guess I'll just end with this. So just you you you don't ever know when you're gonna meet your best friend and follow that heart. You know, follow your your gut when you meet this person, and it's just that instant connection.

Leisa: 34:38

It doesn't even matter if you're in high school or an adult or a senior citizen or any, you know, any age, because that joy is is a gift that will keep on giving.

Sheila Andres: 34:50

And I just wanna take a moment, Lisa and Tamara, like, you know, when you first talked about this podcast, it already touched me. And I felt like, oh, I need to reach out. But something said, wait. And I just knew that you guys were doing something special. So I just I just wanna acknowledge you for taking the time to do this because best friends are they're so important for everything.

Sheila Andres: 35:13

They add sparkle and beauty and joy and love to a person's life. And then, when her sister talked about 20 20th death anniversary and all that, it just felt like the timing of everything. And then when you brought it up, it was like, now I know I need to reach out. And I just I I thought you guys were gonna reach out to me and and, like, kinda school me or let me know if I would be able to do this, but you all of a sudden, it was like, it's scheduled. We're done.

Sheila Andres: 35:42

And I felt so good about it. And I'm just grateful. Like, oh, they didn't even question it. You know, they said show up. And, so I'm really appreciative for this opportunity to honor my best friend.

Sheila Andres: 35:56

You know? So thank you so much.

Leisa: 36:00

You are welcome. Thank you. And we'll we'll cheers to Sharon today. So

Tamara: 36:06

Yeah. Well, Anna, I'm leaving. I wanted to ask you if if, you could be with her today after we get off this podcast. What would you go do for fun together?

Sheila Andres: 36:20

I think I'd probably, like, call her and either invade her home and her room and drink an entire bottle of wine and stay there for as long as I wanted to and just chat my head and heart out. And that's all it took. Life was so full just being present with her. So I would drag my butt and make sure that we were just in the same room, and it'd be more than enough to celebrate to talk about this and whatever, shoot the breeze and whatever came to mind. Again, minute by minute, replay of everything.

Sheila Andres: 36:59

So, I live for that. I live for that.

Leisa: 37:03

That's beautiful. Okay, besties. We will see you on our next episode. Thank you, Sheila, for being so amazing and heartfelt with your story about your beautiful friend.

Sheila Andres: 37:14

Thank you. Till next

Tamara: 37:15

time. Bye. Bye, everyone.

Leisa: 37:19

Hey, Bestie. Thanks for listening. If you like this episode, be sure to hit that subscribe button to get notified of new episodes and check out cool bestie gift ideas at how I met my bff.com.

Tamara: 37:30

That's right. And also, leave us a review. Those reviews help us out a lot and are one of the best ways to support us.

Leisa: 37:37

Yes. And if you have a fun story about how you met your BFF, send us an email at info at how I met my bff.com. We would love to hear about it.

Tamara: 37:45

Definitely. And, hey, maybe we'll have you on our next episode.

Leisa: 37:50

That would be awesome. Until next time.

Tamara: 37:52

Love you, BFFs.