Thanks be to the friendship gods that brought me to my dear, dear friend Sarah.  We met eight years ago when I was an Americorps Member at Reach Community Development.  I painted houses and did home repairs for elderly and disabled low income folks (I used to despise this word, and now I’m using it – sigh).  Sarah worked on lead safety and abatement. 

One day, we walked to Anne Hughes Kitchen Table for lunch and a friendship was born.  I have known her through her first born’s first Halloween party (Hunter), the birth of two children (Bryn and Grayson), moving house, and many, many preschool and elementary school fund raisers. 

She has known me through more jobs than I care to count, just as many “ended” friendships, and one novel, to which she gave a rave review.

She is kind, thoughtful, generous, ever so caring, crafty, and loads of fun to be around.  I spend hours and hours with her in person and on the phone, yet never tire of her company.  More importantly, she never tires of mine.  I am the quintessential Gemini – stodgy, yet silly with wild abandon and irreverance, uptight and totally mellow, infuriating and exhilarating.  Through it all, Sarah laughs at me as well as I do.  Thank you, my dear.

So, on this day that is weeks before your birthday (something I am terrible at remembering when it actually counts), I honor you and our wonderful friendship.

I love you friend.  Have a beautiful day!