In search of How to make like sherlock and track down a long-lost bud.

When your best friend on the whole planet moved three states away, you thought your world had crumbled. Before she left, you made each other special memory books and shed tears for a week straight. You even flew to visit her at her new house twice. It was awesome. But that was then. And this is now--you haven't seen her in two years. Your last IM session was more than nine months ago. Exactly what you two swore would never happen did--you lost touch.

Whassup woes

You're not even sure she still lives in that other state, but she's been on your mind constantly, and you want to catch up with her.

You two were glue. Stuck together like cookies and cream.

How do you find her? And, yikes, what if she's totally different? What if she doesn't remember the friendship the same way you do? What if you have nothing in common anymore? No doubt, reconnecting with a long-lost gal pal can stir up some mucky stuff So before dialing her digits, decide if you're equipped to deal with the outcome--one way or the other.

What if...she wants to pick up where you guys left off and be BFFs again? Be sure you can squeeze her into your agenda. What if...she seems less than thrilled to hear from you? Sometimes, it is painful for a person to hear from a friend she hasn't seen hide nor hair of in quite some time. What if...she's not exactly the great girl you once knew? People do change, after all.

If you decide to call, go slo-mo. Ask your pal what she's been up to since you last saw each other. Ask about her family, if you knew them. Reminisce about old times together because that's one definite connection you share.

Setting up a smooth reunion

OK, you've called, you clicked, and you're both up for a reunion. You're probably psyched and maybe a little nervous. Seeing someone after several years can be awkward. So take some steps that will make it as comfortable as possible.

If you live within driving distance of one another, it should be pretty easy to pick a place to meet. Chose someplace chill like a coffeehouse, where you can chat over some hot chocolate with extra whipped cream. Plan to spend a couple hours together just catching up.

Avoid going to the movies or a party, since the whole point of hooking up is to get reacquainted with each other. And don't invite another friend for your first visit. It might be tempting to bring along a sidekick for support, but it's almost guaranteed to make things weird.

If you live far away from each other, catching up with your long-lost might not be so simple. You'll have to consider your parents schedules, travel time, length of stay and financial factors when planning your reunion. Chances are you might not be able to meet right away. But use the time and distance to talk on the phone, e-mail, IM and write each other. If things hold up over a couple weeks or so, you might change your mind and decide you really don't have to make the five-hour trip. Or you might feel like you need to hop on the very next Greyhound.

If you're going to her crib, don't wear out your welcome. A short weekend stay is sufficient. It's unlikely you'll drive each other nuts in 48 hours. Throw a few things in your overnight bag to help her get to know the "now" you--a photo album, poetry journal, your fave CD, some hemp to make matching chokers.

If you're hosting your out-of-town friend, come up with stuff to do. Nobody wants to spend a weekend watching Sabrina reruns. Yes, you'll need some time to just hang, but make your visit together memorable. Introduce her to your world--show her where you go for smoothies, your secret serenity spot at the park, your favorite thrift shop. If she moved away, make sure she gets to see the people and things she misses most.

Who are you?

If it's been eons since you've seen your bud, brace yourself. You might be floored at how she's morphed into a louder, shyer, bolder, sweeter or more sarcastic person. And you might be most surprised by how she looks--hey, everybody grows up.

After all, maybe the last time you saw her you two were wearing buckets on your heads in your backyard sandbox. It's likely you're both so over the things you used to love, and that's normal. Don't be disillusioned to discover your old friend not only sold her ice skates years ago, but she has absolutely zero interest in skating.

Having a hard time believing that spike-haired, eyebrow-pierced, six-foot tall chica towering in front of you is the same pigtailed, puncture-free, petite pal you once knew and loved? Don't let your bud's new look impact how you feel. We doubt you look exactly the same as you did when you were 7, either.

Gabi, 14, was super surprised when she saw her old friend Meg: "I imagined her looking exactly how I remembered her," she explains. "I thought she was going to have really long hair and be skinny. When she showed up, her hair was short, she had big boobs and was really tall!" As it turns out, it was the perfect starting point, because Meg cracked up when she saw the surprise on Gabi's face, and the two joked about it.

Just because she hasn't frozen in time doesn't mean you two can't be great pals. If it's that you no longer share the same interests, take advantage of the chance to check out something new. She can show you how to make beaded belts, and you can give her drum lessons.

Keep your expectations real

You two might go back to being the best of buds, or you could decide to keep it casual and just check in from time to time. Either way, you probably won't regret the effort you made to reconnect with an old friend. And if the friendship rocks, don't let it slip for a second time. No excuses!

RELATED ARTICLE: Reunited...and it feels so good!

I met Christina in kindergarten and, up until third grade, we were inseparable. We always had a great time together, whether telling jokes or singing along to our fave country tunes. But that all changed when my BFF moved two hours away from our hometown of Alsea, Oregon.

It was two years after Christina had moved away before I heard from my long-lost BFF again. One day, I just randomly received a letter from her. I was so excited to hear all about her new life. And I knew, despite all the time that had gone by, that I wanted to stay BFFs.

It's been five years since Christina left Oregon. We're both in the seventh grade now and, despite almost losing touch five years ago, we've gotten our friendship back and better than ever. True, things are a little different now. We mostly write letters and talk on the phone. But we share stories about our lives and even reminisce about when we were little. Christina and I really understand each other, and we are still best friends no matter what. --Holly, 13

Good Bud Hunting

* If you know where she lives, call 411 for national listings. Knowing her parents' first names makes things easier. Then again, she may have her own line.

* Look her up on the Internet. Most search engines have a "People" category. Search the White Pages, or do a general search on her name.

* If you are an AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo member, use member directories.

* If you went to school together, see if they have her forwarding info.

* Is anyone still in touch with her or her family? Get her number from them.

* Remember where one of her folks worked? Call the company and see if he or she still works there.

* If she's a friend from camp or a summer program, call and see if they have an alumni directory.