I've know the divine Ms. E since Jimmy Carter was President. We met the year he lost to Reagan. We're officially old.
Since I can't be there this year to pick her up in my ever-music-blaring car, and take her out for a fancy, or low-key, but terribly comfortable dinner. Since I can't order her a fabulous dessert concoction, and tip the waitress to bring it with candles and a song to our table to turn her cheeks flush pink with embarrassment. Since I can't reach out and give her the biggest, most heartfelt hug, that would tell her how important she is, and what an amazing support she has been throughout our decades as confidants. Since I can't be there to tell her how damn proud I am of the woman she is and has become, I will shamefully embrace this technology and blog about it.
Growing up, it wasn't always easy in south Minneapolis. More than a few kids lived within turbulent households and sought some kind of release from their families on the streets of our neighborhoods. That's how Lis came to darken our doorstep those first few years more than she darkened her own. It was then, immediately, that she had found a new (or additional) home.
I remember one of the first social events outside of school with my dear BFF, on her 7th birthday (1st grade = 7 yrs old, right?). I wore an apple turtleneck and colored her Miss Piggies (from a colossally cool Muppet coloring book - a move that would cause her to doubt my friendship for years to come). Despite my horrible social graces, she continued to call me her friend. We clung to each other in first through third grade in a private Lutheran school off of Franklin. And then, the absolute horror of transferring to a *gasp* public school for fourth grade turned us into the class bullies... There was no turning back after that.
Through "coolness", through "un-coolness", I never lacked a best friend. Through more important things; disasters, moving away, break-ups, losing loves, gaining new circles of friends, and all of the other typical insanity that defines life, she has been there for me. And I've been there for her.
In this new chapter, which is inarguably the MOST exciting, I get to be an aunt to her beautiful girls. And I can not wait for them to meet their wonderful, giving, intuitive, charitable, crazy (you know it), lovely mother.
And, since I can't stay up until 1am to be the first to wish her a Happy Birthday, it'll have to be the thought that counts. Love you so much, my dear, dear friend. Looking forward to the next several decades and the adventures to come! Happy, Happy Birthday sweetie.
love, me
