Thankful for Birthday Shenanigans Part Two

TR and the Fiend did their absolute best to make sure that my birthday, despite containing the need to deal with a flat tire, was totally awesome.  That consisted of breakfast in bed and snuggle time, helping to make the house shiny and surprising me with a nice dinner out with friends complete with cake and pie.

 

Thanks to Angel, Matt, Robin and Rachel for coming out to make my night great.

 

Thanks to the guys at VIP for not making me buy four new tires even though I have an all wheel drive. (“You’re so lucky, the tread on these tires is really good.”)

 

Thanks to the AAA lady who was so sweet and the driver who was so fast.

 

But most importantly thanks to my two loves, TR and the Fiend, for wanting me to have a special day.  You definitely succeeded.

Thankful for Birthday Shenanigans

And the people who participated in making my two day trip so great.

Thanks to Antonio and Eric who brightened my day by running into me on my travels.

Thanks to Shawna for keeping me company while I got my hairs cut.

Thanks to the hairdresser who did such an awesome job.

Thanks to John for catching up.

Thanks to Katie for beer and chocolate.

Thanks to Emily for pumpkin chocolate chip yumminess.

Thanks to Lizzie for dancing.

Thanks to Steve for playing Sorry at the bar.

Thanks to Chris for showing up and being you.

Thanks to Mary for breakfast.

Thanks to Bridget for lunch.

Thanks to Lesley and Emily for lunch and a great afternoon.

Thanks to Brian for the pumpkin home brew and graciously being the subject of the funniest storytelling event of the evening.

Thanks to Katie J. for the awesome card.

Thanks to Corey for chocolate birthday bread and snuggles and making me stay up past my bedtime.

Thanks to Seren for delicious dinner and best hugs ever and general wonderfulness.

All in all, birthday shenanigans were a win.  And I am very thankful for that.

On Sisters

I have this little sister Stasha.  She is cute and quite funny.  She got married just a smidge over a year ago (Happy Anniversary guys!).  I had the distinct pleasure of officiating at the wedding.  What an opportunity!  My sister invited me to publicly humiliate her on her wedding day.  A greater gift has never been given to me.

A funny thing happened when I sat down to write the ceremony.  Sure I made a few jokes.  C’mon, it’s me.  But I found myself thinking how lucky I am to have my sister both because she is a wonderful person and because we share something nobody else can understand.  Other sisters know what I’m talking about.  It’s the shared history of coming into to womanhood together, knowing each others secrets, seeing each other at our best and our worst and knowing that no matter what, there is a woman in the world who has your back.

There are just so many great memories.  The time I told her we were running away because I was mad at our parents.  She just stood in the corner while I packed socks, underwear, the tea set and one stuffed animal each, crying softly and saying, “But I don’t want to run away!”  She was so relieved when we got caught.

When we decided to play beauty salon.  With safety scissors.  The night before school picture day.  Yeah, sorry about the bangs.

The time we got our ears pierced and she got scared.  I stood beside her and let her permanently ruin my chances of being a professional concert pianist by holding my hand.  As we held our collective breath waiting for the piercing to begin, “Stand By Me” came on the radio.

How we used to wrestle, WWF-style, almost everyday after school over silly things like who got the remote the year I was 13 and she was 11.  My mother eventually stopped taking our “Mom!  She did something trivial that I am completely overblowing and I need you to validate my response!” phone calls.

Driving together to Massachusetts to deliver me to my freshman year in college.  My parents took one car and we took the other.  There was a lot of crying on that trip.

Suffering through Karaoke Night at Old Port Tavern to help her ring in her 21st birthday.  You still owe me for that one.

Sitting in a jacuzzi in my twentieth hour of labor.  It was just the two of us, listening to Prairie Home Companion.  The nurse had shown Stasha how to use the fetal heart monitor so we could be left alone.  I absolutely would not have had the amazing birth experience I did have without that hour alone with her.

Getting to be a part of her wedding day.  Most importantly making her cry on her wedding day.  I mean she would have done without my help.  She’s a crybaby.  But I certainly helped.

I could go on.  It is enough to say that I have been blessed to share many wonderful experiences with my sister.  I am lucky to have her in my life.  We may tease each other merciless to the point of cruelty.  We may go without talking for two months.  We may get unbelievably annoyed with each other over incredibly meaningless things.  But when push comes to shove, we will always be there for each other, and that is a pretty fantastic thing.

Happy birthday little sister.

On Fathers

Everyone thinks they have the best dad in the world.  Well maybe not everyone.  I bet Ghengis Khan’s kids found his paternal skills to be lacking.  Perhaps Issac had an axe to grind with Abraham.  But for the rest of you, you probably think your dad is the greatest.  You are entitled.  He’s your dad.

But you would be wrong.

That’s because I have the all-time greatest, number one, world class best dad ever.  Hands down.  No contest.

Sorry to burst your bubble, rain on your parade or otherwise ruin your day.  But the truth must be told.

This is the guy who cried at ET, snuck me sips of wine cooler when I was little and had hugs with amazing curative powers unrivaled by modern medicine. The individual who taught me the importance of having an informed opinion, the value of knowing how to play chess and the wonder that is Jethro Tull.  The dude who taught me to drive, change a tire and replace a spark plug.  The person I call when I get in trouble, who bails me out and never judges me for it.   The man who worked hard everyday to feed and clothe and house my sister and I without complaint.  The man who always believes in me, no matter what.

One of my favorite childhood memories is of an afternoon spent curled up in a sunbeam on my father’s lap with my ear over his heart.  There were people visiting, old family friends, but I was too busy listening to his deep, soothing voice, his warm laugh and the beat of his heart to pay them any mind.  I do not think there are many moments in my life that can compete.  I felt warm, safe and absolutely loved.

My father has been my rock and inspiration.  If I could be merely half the person he is that would be a great accomplishment.  He is the most kind, compassionate, caring, strong, hardworking, honest, generous man I know.

So if it makes you feel better continue to believe that you have the best dad.  I understand.  But you and I both know the truth.

My dad is the best.

Happy Birthday Dad.