Picking up right where we left off....

I have been blessed with a very special type of friend--  A type of friend that you might have as well and to which you may relate.  Let me give you some background:  When I decided to pack all of my necessary belongings into my vehicle and accept a travel nursing assignment in Phoenix, Arizona back in September of 2006, I was filled with a variety of emotions--one of which was fear.  I drove across the country with my mother to a state where I knew absolutely nobody.  A few days after settling in, my mom flew back to Pennsylvania and I was alone.  No family.  No friends.  A new job.  Enter Miss Corina Garcia into the picture.....
Corina was finishing up her MSW degree and was working as a behavioral counseling technician at the hospital where I just had accepted a 3 month nursing assignment.  Corina and I hit it off immediately.  We worked the afternoon shift together and quickly became friends.  We often went out to eat, grabbed a drink or two, or went swimming in our free time.  Being 6 years older than Corina, I saw myself not only as a friend but as a big sister to her as well.  Often, I saw her about to make the same mistakes that I had several years before and would try to subtly warn her or if I needed to up the ante, lecture her relentlessly until I realized that I could and should merely state the facts and let her make her own decisions, even if they may not be what I consider to be in her best interest.
I ended up renewing my contract 3 times in Phoenix, staying for a total of 10 months.  Then, off to my next adventure...California.
Once in California, I went from talking to Corina every day to a few times a day, then to a few times a month, and less and less.  Of course, I missed my friend and thought of her often, but our lives kept going on miles apart.  Until one day in 2008, (I don't remember whose idea it was) she decided to plan a trip out to CA to see me.  This one trip ended up being an every year event.  We have gone many places...Newport Beach, Knotts "scary" Farm, San Luis Obispo, Ojai, Long Beach, Catalina Island, Carpenteria, and just this weekend we went to Cambria.
Corina has come to visit me 5 consecutive years like clockwork...every year around this time, give or take a month.
The unique thing about my friendship with Corina is that her yearly visit is basically the only time we talk!!!!  I am certain that I did not speak to her once on the phone this entire year.  Our minimal communication is via Facebook or text messages and those are few and far between.  The super awesome thing about it is that each year I pick her up at the airport, we pick up right where we left off---we don't miss a beat.  We fill each other in on how our families are doing, how our careers are going, and about any boyfriends we have had over the last year.  We laugh hysterically at our relationship mishaps and I still get in my mini lectures that I actually think Corina has grown to like---she must because I see her making progress.  As if I should be lecturing anyone regarding relationships, right????   It's not that I want to lecture anyone.  I just see what a fabulous catch Corina is and I never, ever want her to sell herself short and settle.  Corina is undoubtedly one of the most kind-hearted, fair, smart, and sincere individuals I have ever met...plus she is the little sister I never had so of course I believe she should have/be with only the best and the brightest.
I just returned from the airport after dropping Corina off to catch her flight back to Phoenix.  As I hugged her goodbye, I sadly realized that I probably won't talk to her for a while...but that's ok...because I know that when I do, we will commence without skipping a beat and we will fill each other in on the faux pas of the next 12 months laughing on our way to our next California retreat.

Do you have a friend that you can effortlessly pick up from where you left off?????