It's been nearly 10 years since we first met in California. What started out as just seeing each other once in a while at the ice rink turned into a friendship where we saw each other 6 days a week--encouraging and motivating each other through jump repetitions and new spin variations or coaching little ones how to skate on one foot. There were laughs, tears, sweat, food, and silly pictures involved. We had one thing in common, and that was figure skating. And yet, despite the high school graduations, cross-country moves, college, vet school, marriage, and time zones, we have still stayed friends. It was the day-in-day-out bonding we had at the ice rink back in 2005-2008 that helped us get to know each other on a deep level that could withstand life's changes. Even now, nearly a decade after moving apart, we still text, send handwritten letters, and talk on the phone occasionally. We aren't sole mates. We might have different religious perspectiv...