Friends are Kisses Blown to us by Angels

"That’s what real love amounts to – letting a person be what he really is."  Jim Morrison

Happy happy birthday to my best friend Anna, I don't know where I'd be without you!

The year was 2005.  I had just moved to a house next door to the house we had rented for a few years.  I remember days going by and seeing my old landlord put a "For Sale" sign in front of the little house I called home for four years.  Nervous hesitation churned in my stomach wondering who would buy the dwelling and became our neighbor.  Could be a good or bad thing.  A few months went by of many people coming to look but never being seen again.

One weekend I sat on the side porch of my house with a cup of coffee and realized there was serious activity at the neighboring house.  Not sure if it was a buyer, I just watched and listened.  I heard adults talking and a tiny little girl with a shock of blond hair and a baby tone to her voice when she talked.

The next day, we had friends over to our house to swim and have a cookout.  It was July and the dog days of summer were just starting.  Our house had the biggest yard with the least amount of surrounding neighbors so it was a shoe-in for the parties.  The activity at the neighboring house was happening again and this time there was another little girl, a little taller than the first, with brown hair and a round face with full cheeks and big brown eyes.  She was very confident and next thing I knew she was at our picnic table stating she absolutely needed ketchup on her hot dog followed by a synopsis of her life to that point and wondering when we could go in the pool again.  Her mother came out to make sure she was ok and wasn't pushing herself on us.  It was at that point I met my best friend and I don't think we ever looked back again.

Every girl has and needs that one person in their life. The one where there are no expectations, requirements, pressures.  The one who meets every point on the checklist of your unwritten girl code.  From the start, there was this natural ease between us that was unlike anything I had ever experienced.  I spent more time with her and her girls than I did in my own house with my then husband.  I was "home" when we were together, no place I'd rather be.

We have been through pretty much everything possible together.  As I thought about writing this, I replayed the last 8 years together and I think we have touched most major life events together.  We have had divorce, marriage, illness, moving, broken hearts, court cases, first steps, birth, house purchases, even death (albeit a pet death and not a human death).

Happy happy birthday to the person who knows me better than anyone ever has, or probably will.  My true soul mate.  The best friend anyone could ever ask for, bar none.  I wish you years of love, happiness, success, laughs and luck.  I am here to hold your hand through the hard times, to wipe your tears (even though we don't cry anymore lol) and to give you the boost you can't seem to find in yourself.  I can't imagine my life without you.  Even though we hit a bump in the road of our friendship a few years back, I think we found each other again and have become stronger for that.  I never want a point in time again where you aren't.  You are an amazing person, mother, wife and friend, I aspire to a fraction of your patience.  I know there is nothing we can't get through or accomplish - together.  And I know times are rough right now, and your birthday is probably the last thing on your mind today, but know that Gabbie, Will and I love you to the moon and back.  And when things settle down, I know a shoe shopping trip and some Chipotle are on the docket.

Here is to the rest of our lives - the memories I know we will make as well as the ones we will look back on, some fondly, some notsomuch.  God knew what He was doing when He led you to that little house all those years ago.  You were exactly what I needed back then, and what I need by my side for the rest of my life.

Love you tons girl!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!