What Full House can teach us about friendship

As I was making dinner last night, I heard Husband watching the trailer for Fuller House and was instantly transported back to the Friday nights of my formative years.

My best friend and I would often watch together, hanging out in her game room with her little sister.  We loved the show and how the girls somehow dealt with many of the same issues we did. I instantly teared up, thinking of all the slumber parties, movie marathons and thousands of secrets whispered between friends.

Husband walked in, saw I was lost in a haze of nostalgia and asked if a TV show from the 90s really had me all misty eyed. I choked out, “Val had a little sister and I was the friend that dropped by all the time.” Husband’s response? “You were Kimmy Gibbler?”

I laughed and said sure, thinking I had done a bad job explaining myself. After all, I was trying to explain that the show meant a lot to me and that there were strong parallels with my life at the time. After all, who would want to be Kimmy Gibbler?

But maybe being Kimmy Gibbler wasn’t such a bad thing. Maybe it was a great thing. 

Kimmy was a little strange and annoying, but  the Tanners loved her anyway. She was fiercely loyal to her best friend and much smarter than she would have you think. Kimmy could be a little rebellious and depended on DJ to reel her in when her ideas got a touch too wild.

While there were certainly episodes of self-doubt and trying to fit in with the cool kids, the thing I love about Kimmy Gibbler is she was so completely herself.

Her wild antics, extreme energy and quick wit gave the Tanners plenty to tease her about, but she didn’t care. The teasing did sometimes hurt her feelings, but she knew who she was and didn’t let other people’s opinions of her change the way she lived her life.

I didn’t see it then, but I do now – Kimmy Gibbler was brave.

The growing-up years, especially during puberty, can be treacherous for those who are different and while Kimmy experienced plenty of ups and downs, she stayed true to who she was. I think a lot of that had to do with the strength of her friendship with DJ.

Yes, the girls went through the usual drama that happens during that phase of life, but they always had each other’s back. They trusted each other completely and relied on one other. Each was stronger because of the other.

May we all be Kimmy Gibbler; totally ourselves and completely confident in our quirks. 

May we all have a friend like DJ; honest, faithful and wise.

After all, when you’re lost out there and you’re all alone, a light is waiting to carry you home. Everywhere you look. Everywhere you look. (Chip-a-dee-ba-ba-dow)

How has a lifelong friendship made a difference in your life?