As suggested by friend Chris Spiro on her blog, I’m playing the Memory Tag game. 

Here’s how you play:

1. As a comment on this blog post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory of you.

It’s actually pretty funny to read the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I’ll assume you’re playing the game and I’ll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don’t want to play on your blog, or if you don’t have a blog, I’ll leave my memory of you in my comments.

And if you know Chris, be sure to post a memory on her blog!

Today, my little sister turns….  well, let’s just call it another year older.

She always has to share her birthday with that of our nation, but this year, I’m not celebrating Independence Day at all – today, it’s just

Kristin’s birthday! 

Isn’t she cute as a 3 1/2 year old?
(or was it 4 1/2)     

Here are a few things you may or may not know about Kristin….

First, you’ll never find a more loyal friend.  She’ll defend you to the end – but will also be your conscience, because she is, after all, the fairness police :)  It’s been a difficult struggle for her to recognize and accept that life just isn’t fair – because she wants it to be for EVERYONE!

She used to be the responsibility police as well.   But over time, I think she’s discovered life can be more enjoyable if we don’t take responsibility for others responsibility or lack thereof.  With age comes wisdom.   

Kristin is generous to a fault – as exhibited by her innumerable acts of thoughtfulness.   A card with a little cash hidden in the back, just because she knows you’ve hit a rough spot financially (never mind she might be too)….   cards and gifts sent off in time for every birthday or holiday, hours upon hours spent editing photos or videos to make a special surprise, finding ways to help pay for my trip to Hawaii with her when I couldn’t really afford it.   

As a teenager, I’d find sweet notes from her hidden in my room, or flown at me in the form of a paper airplane. I’d come home to discover a gold lame’ bag, filled with M&Ms on my pillow…. Kristin spent her allowance money to do that – even though I teased her horribly, pretending I was going to drop her off the balcony (I suspect she actually enjoyed that game, knowing I wouldn’t REALLY drop her) and making her sell popcicles with Chris for a measley reward. But this post is about Kristin, not me…

She has always been a good sport too.  Especially with her hair.  Whenever I’d get the itch to cut my long hair, she let me satisfy it by cutting hers instead.   She’s had a lot of hairstyles over the years.

And she’s been willing to indulge my silliness and cosmic musings in a way that only a sister can.   She can be pretty silly herself, though.    We have an ongoing habit that if we ever go to a restaurant or store that takes your order/reservation, and then says “could I get a name?” – the name they get is Guenivier, which always draws strange looks.  I love seeing how they try to spell it.   Mind you they never ask, “could I get your name” – it’s always just a name… so we feel no obligation to give them ours.

She has always been there to help with the really hard stuff, whenever I’ve needed her and when no one else showed up (or even if they did).  

Stuff like apartment hunting, packing/ hauling/ unpacking for multiples moves, painting houses, cleaning out houses, drafting divorce and child support agreements, working til 2am (hours after everyone else had left) to help me hang a hundred butterflies from the church ceiling/arrange huge trees to create the perfect “enchanted forest” for Ashley’s wedding, working her butt off in the kitchen during the reception (along with mom, bart and grandma) because the stupid R.S. ladies who committed to be there didn’t show up.  I could NOT have pulled off Ashley’s wedding without her.

Kristin is smart as a whip – though she didn’t realize it til far too late in her life.  She is a talented writer, a whiz with numbers, and can turn ANYTHING into a chart or graph that will blow your socks off.    She’s really quite brilliant.  And, I’m so happy that she shares my disdain for “tacky forms” – and recognizes the importance of a well laid out newsletter or webpage.   

AND – even better, she’s a total wordnerd!

Oh, and along with this smart thing – she’s ORGANIZED. I have made a pie chart graphic in her honor. As she has said many times: A man without a plan is not a man…. (I, apparently, am not a man).

She thinks ahead, when we travel she provides these incredible checklists to make sure we don’t forget anything. When we traveled to Hawaii together for the first time, over a period of a couple months she emailed a history of the islands, information about the culture, just stuff to make sure the trip was all it could possibly be.  She’s just very considerate, including sharing the benefits of her organizational skills with all – and I really appreciate it.

She’s also got a great sense of humor and we do our fair share of laughing when we’re together.  And we seem to keep her kids amused.

Speaking of which, she’s also a great mom, and has raised (is raising) two incredible smart, gifted, thoughtful, respectful, fun kids. She’s instilled in them the understanding that they can trust their own feelings and judgement – that they are capable of making wise decisions – and they do. A devoted companion to Craig, I think he’d tell you she’s the perfect wife for him.  She starts planning months in advance for a birthday, anniversary or Christmas gift for him – to make sure it is something thoughtful, unique and meaningful.
  

She can be tough and strong and put you in your place if you’re out of line… it’s the Marine in her. Yes, a Marine. (“I can make you handicapped if you want to park there legally….”)  She’s also sensitive, compassionate and tenderhearted. I’m grateful she was able to attend to our mom/grandma during the last couple of weeks of my grandmother’s life. I know it was really hard for her – both physically and emotionally – but she never complained and turned it into a beautiful experience.

We share more private jokes than one could possible count. She’s been my travel companion, commiserator, emotional counselor, technical support, fellow photo fanatic, partner in crime, conscience, cheerleader, moral support and best friend for longer than I can remember. And, honestly, I don’t know how I would have survived many of my life experiences without her. I’m so glad I didn’t have to find out….

Love you – happy birthday!

P.S. Let’s plan another trip!

 

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!