Friends and birthdays go together just like ice cream and cake. Today was my birthday and I heard from all of my friends. To me that's pretty amazing because I live in Oregon and most of my friends live in or near my home town of Lewes, DE. In a few weeks we will be gathered back there for our 30th High School Reunion. And I'm looking forward to it. Although, I have to say that it seems like 30 years was a long time ago. Are we really that old? Shoot, when we were seniors 50 seemed so far away and for me it's a little closer than I would like it to be (365 days to be exact). In this modern age of Facebook and the internet those 30 years just disappear and we are all 17 again. That's how I remember my high school friends. I thumb through my yearbook and I look at all of us "back in the day". We were so young and full of hope and promise, and really not that much has changed. When I get to my picture I tend to be a little over critical of the adult me. I'm still that girl in the picture. Just older, and I hope, a whole lot wiser. But that girl that was so full of fun and adventure is still a big part of who I am. My mother sent me the best birthday card. It said ". . . you dance to your own wonderful beat. You don't follow the crowd, you follow your heart." Only your mother can send you that card, because she is the one who knows you best. And yes, every word is true. I made my own path. It hasn't always been easy, but my friends have supported me, and held me up and been there for me. When I scrolled down my facebook page today I looked at who had sent me messages. There were friends there who represented different parts of my life and who still live where I knew them as well as friends that I have here in my new home. It makes you feel very grateful when you scroll down the list and see who checked in.
There are some quotes I'd like to share here regarding your friends. One is by Ralph Waldo Emerson and is probably one of my favorites. He says that "A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nautre." Another author is unknown says "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." I love both of those quotes because all of the people that I hold near and dear to me qualify for both. I think of my childhood friends when I think of the second quote. We went through so much growing up. Climbing trees, riding bikes, playing softball, Jr. High, first loves, divorcing parents, driving, eating pizza, visiting colleges, and moving into our adulthood, some more gracefully than others. But at the lowest times in my life, those were the people that sang back to me when I was lost and needed to remember the words of the song so I could get back on the right path. Mr Emerson helps me to remember and appreciate all that I have. When I adopted my daughter I met a group of the most amazing women I had ever known. Nearly 12 years later we are still friends and our girls refer to each other as "the Chinese Cousins." Like my childhood friends they are a masterpiece and I treasure each and everyone of them. There have been other people in my life that when I see them it's like we have never missed a beat and we pick right up where we left off. We don't see each other all that often, but they are special to me too, and I heard from all of them today too.
It's amazing when you have a birthday how special you feel. My dad always sends me a special card and this year I learned I'm not too old to be Daddy's little girl. That's pretty great. You are only as old as you feel and pretty much I'm still 17 with about 33 years of practice. It gets me in trouble now and again, but why quit now. I'm getting pretty good at 17! Thanks again to all of you who sent me birthday wishes - not too shabby for someone who isn't going to have any more birthdays! I'm quitting while I'm still young! Cheers!
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