It was 3 a.m., and the white granite countertops were stained purple. A deep, royal hue. And so was the left side of Izze’s head, a perfect match for her pink and green braces. For four highly caffeinated middle schoolers, 3 a.m. felt like the perfect time to experiment with Izze's hair, and the bathroom countertop would just have to be the unfortunate scene of the crime. The next morning, when Izze’s mom Ursula was confronted by a sleep deprived purple head of hair and a new bathroom color scheme, things got interesting. Izze had to be in her Sunday confirmation class in an hour, and quite frankly looked a mess. Ursula quickly worked through the stages (denial, anger, etc)., but ultimately had no choice but to let it go. She knew her daughter, and knew that when Izze is involved, you never quite know what you’re going to get, but you do know that it’s going to be good.
Isabel Long was born on May 17, 2000, just 10 days after me, but my family first met the Long’s in 2003, when her parents were looking to buy a new house in Chapel Hill for their family of six. The Long’s called my dad, a local real estate agent, and they began the search. Little Izze tagged along for the first home showing, and within the first half hour, was nowhere to be seen. They scanned through the property, checking every corner, eventually finding her tucked away in a closet, in her own little world. She had found a way to turn a boring “adult” afternoon into a new and exciting game of hide and seek, because that is just what Izze does. As she aged, she never really left that little world, and I have been lucky enough to join her in it. She was gifted with a wild and roaming imagination and has a miraculous ability to turn the most mundane moments into something you just can’t forget. With Izze, everything is an adventure.
For the entirety of our now 15-year-long friendship, that is exactly what Izze has been doing, making every moment unforgettable. Izze and I met in the same first grade class, but to be completely honest, I was a little intimidated by her, because she was just so cool. Even as a 6-year-old, she had it going on. She wore the brown gaucho pants that everyone wanted, had the best crazy hair-day updos, and was always on the move. She spent her afternoons at horseback riding lessons or cheering on her three older siblings' high school sports teams, often found hoisted up on someone's shoulders after a big win, a head above anyone else.
Every year, Izze would hold her highly coveted Embassy Suites sleepover birthday party, and our friendship was officially sealed when I received an invite in third grade. I can still feel the smile on my face when she asked me to come, I was ecstatic. We spent the night playing elevator tag, sprinting down the hallways after one another, and sipping Shirley Temples by the pool. I was no longer intimidated by Izze, but became absolutely obsessed with my newest best friend. I don’t know what was in the air of that Embassy Suites, but it bonded us, because from that night on, we became inseparable. So thank you, Embassy Suites, I owe it all to you.
Izze is a lot of things. She is a host. It was her house that the four of us best friends spent every weekend at, upstairs in the bonus room rewatching our favorite movie LOL over and over again. It was her car that we drove out to Mapleview every chance we could, chasing the sunsets and pulling over to dance in the middle of the street. It was her closet that we raided for any and all special occasions, trying on her sisters prom dresses and leaving piles of clothes scattered all across her room (Sorry Ursula and Danny!) And it is her always open arms that makes you feel safe, welcomed, and loved, no matter what. She is strong. Not many people bounce back from tearing their ACL during their senior season, only to laugh it off and walk off the field with their chin up, but Izze did. Not many people can get thrown off a horse, the same horse they tend to at 6 a.m. every morning, and want to jump back on, but Izze does, time and time again. Not many people can find laughter and joy in the hardest moments, but Izze always does. Izze is a goofball. As a kid, she would sit in front of my family's new washing machine in awe, mesmerized by the spin cycles. Even the littlest things were a source of entertainment. She would order our Noodles & Company takeout with a different accent every time, struggling to hold back laughter and rarely succeeding. She surprises you with warm cinnamon sugar bagels during your first period class every Friday morning, making sure to sneak into the classrooms she's not supposed to be in to come say hello - going the extra mile is normal for her. She would hide popsicles around the house on a summer day and make the rest of us hunt to find them, because like I said, when Izze is involved, it is always going to be interesting.
But most importantly, Izze is loyal, fiercely loyal. She is 100% the person I am calling if I am locked away with only one call to make. She answers my calls at the moments I need her most, and has literally dropped everything, leaving a room full of people with no explanation, to come to my rescue. We have shared tears and laughter in unlikely places, in Spanish class, school parking lots, funerals, weddings, airports, the stables of her barn, and every road in between. In the craziest of situations, I always feel a sense of calm with her by my side. She is my right-hand man, the person I dart my eyes to when an awkward pause fills a room. She fights hard for the people and things that she loves, and you do not want to be on the receiving end of that fight. Because when Izze is passionate, there is no stopping her. She is unstoppable and unforgettable. In Izze’s world, when the urge to dye one’s hair purple strikes at three in the morning, the only option is to do it. I think Izze’s world is a magical place, a place that sees no limits for the things you love, a place where laughter is a priority, and a place we should all strive to be in more often.
To my right-hand man, my personal chauffeur, adventure buddy, and so much more, thanks for letting me enter your own little world - there is nowhere else I'd rather be.
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