Happy Birthday to my best friend, Michelle….   

aka Honey, Goob, Shell, Shelly and Buns (nickname given to her by the neighborhood buys who appreciated her cute derriere). 

We’ve been best friends since 9th grade (which is a lot longer ago that it feels) and some of my best memories, most embarrassing moments, and my greatest laughter, have been shared with her.  

She’s smart, wickedly funny, talented, compassionate, a loyal friend, and looks as great today as she did 20 years ago.  Maybe even better.   Including her “buns.”  I’m jealous.   

I don’t know why, but when we are together we are very different than when we are apart.   Something synergistic happens and creates a force to be reckoned with.  Together, we were (and are) nuts. Immune to peer pressure… or family pressure…. fashion sense or any other boundary.  We were good kids – but we truly didn’t care what anyone else thought of us when we were together.  We did the silliest, dumbest things – and kept ourselves laughing constantly.

Things I’d never do on my own.  I could write volumes about the pranks we pulled and things we did together….  Umbrella tree fiasco, belly button filters, pantomiming food while walking down the street, tea parties, prank phone calls to our classmates that led to their embarrassment in the classroom (that is my favorite)….

Some people were really annoyed with us, some jealous (we got away with a lot)… and there were a good many who just loved to be around us to see what would happen next.   I’m sure my siblings will concur…. 

I love that when we’re together EVERYTHING is funny.  We could look at a piece of toast and burst out laughing.   And Michelle is full of the best one liners… really very witty.   She kept me in stitches on our trip to Butchart Gardens last year.  And she’s good sport, not afraid of looking foolish or laugh at herself, and she’s willing to be poked fun of and accept teasing as good natured fun.   Thank you for letting me draw hats and faces on your toes.  Have I mentioned she is really funny?

A true friend – knows me well, all my faults, my embarrassing secrets, and more – and loves and accepts me as I am.  Doesn’t matter how much time has passed, when we connect it’s like we were together yesterday.  I hope we’ll be making a lot more memories together in the next phase of our lives…. 

Love you!   Hope your day is great!