They Say It's Your Birthday

I've been blessed in my life to have developed relationships with people that I will hold sacred and dear until the very end.

My friendship has never come easily. It takes a persistant, strong-willed and energetic soul to breakthrough the infamous "Beaches-Barrier" and develop a lasting connection. As a result, I have a small group of the best friends on earth.

Friends who are so close to me that they have long ago stopped being just friends and have become part of who I am. Friends who are so beautiful, loving and vivacious that quite literally, they provide me with vital parts of my own identity. All too often when I speak, I hear their voices come out of my mouth and each time it makes me smile.

I've mentioned each of these special souls here on various occasions, but rarely in much detail, only because I believe that their stories are theirs to tell and not mine. These are friends that I have met only recently, within the last five years, and also friends who I have known for what now seems like forever. It might as well be, because before them, I was not the same person that I've become with them by my side.

Just over a year ago, one of these "forever" friends, got married and moved to the other side of the country. I stood up for her at her wedding and I had the chance to speak my mind about my love for her in front of her friends and family, old and new. It was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do for a friend, but also one of the most rewarding. It's a moment that I won't soon forget, and they are words that I meant that day, and that I feel right now, and that I will hold dear to my heart for the rest of my life:

Dings has played so many roles in my life.
She’s been my confidant, my shoulder to cry on, my shopping buddy and my travel partner. She’s been a study partner and a partner in crime.
Together we’ve been through boyfriends, through high school, though university, though Europe.
First loves, first jobs, first broken hearts.
She has supported me though my hardest times, and laughed with me through my best.
Now we’re about to embark on a new phase of our friendship -- a long-distance one -- as she sets out with her new husband to start a new life – and I will miss having her close by. But I’m so happy to see her off on this next adventure, and certain that through it all our friendship will stay strong.
Look how far we’ve made already. From little girls to married women.
Dings is my best friend. She’s more than that, she’s my sister.

This new phase of our friendship, which I mentioned through choked sobs in my speech that day, has been a hard one. She's very far away and I miss having her close. But I saw her over the holidays and can tell that she's happy and healthy and loving her new life. And so I am still incredibly happy for her, and happy to report that I was right. Our friendship has stayed strong. Although it sucks not having her here for shopping and yoga and long nights chatting over a bottle of red wine, it's comforting to know that somewhere, on the other side of the country, is a piece of myself. A reminder that a person is not limited to one body, but spread out among those that we love, no matter where they may roam.

Dings, keep representin'! Happy birthday to you. All my love.