Since planning this trip, I could not wait to write this post!!! One of my best friends came to stay with me, and meet me in-person for the FIRST TIME. Christina is also 23 and from Austin, Texas. She may have a southern accent, but we’re pretty similar in personalities and mindsets… and oh yea, we both have FA.

Christina and I are just 2 out of 50,000 people in the U.S. with FA- that may seem small, but it’s a lot bigger than you think. In 2022, we met through our mutual friend who also has FA, (Shoutout to our amazing friend Kyle!)

Although I got in touch with Christina much later than most of my other friends, we text and facetime all the time so it has never actually felt like we haven’t met in-person. Well it was only until picking her up from the airport because I noticed how tall she really is…and she also did not realize how short I am LOL.

Just like any other friendship, there’s always the constant life updates, inside jokes, and deep conversations. But our connection is even more unique, and not because we talk about FA (actually we barely do lol) but because we emotionally have similar perspectives. It makes it easier to understand one another.

Yes, FA is what brought us together, but it’s not what keeps us together!

Whether it’s about friends, work, or even dating, Christina will understand or at least try to understand the way I feel; just like my non-FA friends. She’s honestly one of the first people I call when I need to talk or even just give life updates, and vice versa.

I love my FA community, but I don’t connect with everyone I talk to within it. And that’s the same thing with people in high school or college. It takes a certain connection for me, and Christina is just one of those special connections!

And FYI it absolutely meant the world to me that Christina traveled to Long Island to meet me!!! I made a whole itinerary for when she came, showing her my favorite parts of the island, meeting some of my closest friends, and even taking her to NYC one day! I’ll be planning my trip to Austin to visit her next… 

I love and appreciate all my special connections, whether they have FA or not! ❤