hummadeedledee: Special Days...

Today is my best friend's birthday.
We spent a lotta' birthdays celebrating during our 37 year friendship...

even if it was long-distance celebrating.
Every year, I would call her and tease her about being older than me.

I'd hear about her plans for an evening out at one of her favorite restaurants,

and maybe a concert or other outing to celebrate her special day,

with the love of her life, Tim.

This was the one day a year when she could admit that she was worth celebrating and recognizing.

But the truth is, she was special EVERY DAY.

She was worth celebrating and recognizing

as a strong, brave, courageous woman EVERY DAY.

Her spirit and her light, her sass and her sarcasm, her laughter and her tears,

her honesty and fears and concerns and fierce loyal friendship,

and most of all her FAITH

were what made her such an incredible, beautiful, lovable woman.

Her 'backstory', her capacity to love, to overcome adversity,

her ability to let go of a painful past and embrace life fully -

THAT is what made her special.

I miss her more than words can convey,

but I know that my sorrow is nothing in comparison

to the ache that her husband, children, and family feel today...

my thoughts and prayers are with them.

And though we are separated by a 'physical' distance that is greater now than ever before,
[because Heaven is a LOT further away than Chicago...]

today I will 'call' her and talk to her and let her know once more

just how amazing I think she is. And how LOVED.