On this day 29 years ago, I uttered a sentence I have repeated on this day every year since.
And it goes something like, “Happy Birthday! Now we’re the same age!”
And the response from her goes something like “Yeah, for only two months!”
Hillary and I are not old.
Oh no, definitely not.
But we are old enough to have been friends for 29 years.
And in those 29 years, I have learned one thing for sure.
I knew what I was doing when I chose a best friend.
(Go me!)
We are the kind of friends who…
Can show off our bikini bods, but still maintain modesty.
Will support one another even when one rightfully disagrees with the other’s hat choice.
Understand that we would have years-long Friday night plans. Frog hunting plans.
Will support the one who wants to bungee — although not by actually bungeeing.
Liked to ride Italian trains together in our 20s.
Like to attend St. Pat’s Day festivities outside when it’s freezing.
Hang out with the boys in our lives.
Do this.
Drive home the drunk bachelorette.
Do this.
Support each other in awesome ways on big days.
Meet new little guys who enter our lives.
(Less than a year later…) Meet new little guys who enter our lives.
Stay best friends through it all.
Herely Gerely, I love you!
Happy Birthday.
Kate, that was so sweet! It brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for a trip down memory lanewith my “other daughter”.
Okay, if my calculations are correct, this means you met when you were four years old. That IS a l-o-n-g time to be BFF, Kate. I have a BFF that I met in 8th grade, so I am going to say I was 13 years at time (just guessing, of course). Every year, in November, I tell her “Happy Birthday, you have finally caught up with me”. She reminds me every year, two months earlier that I am a year older than her. This year we have been BFF for 55 years. Her dad used to say that if “Kaye” wore dirty underwear, she would wear dirty underwear the same day, meaning we dressed alike, worked at the same drug store, laughed together, cried together, dated guys who were good friends, and were together most of the time.
BTW, I think I know one of the reasons I like you, Kate. You and my Bob share mutual birthdays (aren’t you glad it’s not the same birth years).
The “do this” pictures are my favorites. Happy Birthday Hillary!