Simply Not Enough Candles

Today I celebrate the birthday of a friend. Today I celebrate her life. Life-long connections are made with individuals with whom there is a belonging. There is an unspoken bond and you know that this person will always remain in your circle of life. If you are very fortunate then you discover a friend like this birthday girl early in life. Then you have the blessing of sharing the greatest occasions of life together. This friend and you share the brightest moments and the darkest hours. They are bearable in large part because of this friendship. The significance of your meeting is not realized until later in life when you can truly see that your paths were destined to cross. You reach for the phone when you have happy news. You reach for the phone when you have a funny story. You reach for the phone when you have an idea for a road trip.You reach for the phone when you need help with a decision. You reach for the phone when your heart is broken. You reach for her. You have seen her lose a loved one and you have ached for her loss. You have seen her fall in love and totally light up and radiate love when she walked down the aisle. You have seen her nurture and protect that marriage and that love with all of her heart. But her heart was large enough to give birth to two amazingly beautiful daughters. You have seen her be an amazing mom and yes, a soccer mom but unlike any other. She has been the ultimate professional in her career and shown great determination and talent while continually surpassing goals and increasing her vision. She has repeatedly made me very proud.  Her daughters have grown into stunning, intelligent, gifted, loving young women who remind me so very much of their mother. She is also a dedicated and loving daughter. She possesses traits of both parents whether she would admit or recognize that or not. She has a love of adventure and information and a wicked laugh. She loves cats,horses and dogs. She is the ONLY person I ever knew who drank Tab. She has been a confidante and comrade. We have shared champagne and many a beer. She can make me laugh and she can make me cry. She can make me laugh until I cry. We have shared political causes and dreams. We have made memories together. We know that we can always count on each other. We have had to say goodbye and it is never fun but it is always temporary. Because of her, I have never been without somewhere to turn. Miles never affected our relationship. She has contributed so many wonderful things to my life. Every candle on her cake today will represent an individual memory of the light she has brought and continues to bring into my life. One candle for that....Oh and definitely one candle for the time that.... You better blow out at least four candles for the time that.... She is a part of me. I have no gift for you today,friend. But know that you are my gift. Happy birthday. I love you. Oh and by the way, you still rock.