I sit here with the keyboard beneath my fingers and find it - as talkative as I am - difficult to put into words what you mean to me and how wonderfully amazing I think you are. You think of your best friend as the one you talk to all the time about anything, the one you shop with (although I HATE shopping), and vent to when boys are acting dumb - which is ALL the time, but my best friend is so much more than that. She sees the inner core of my being and loves me for who that person is, past my messy house, my tendency to NOT PLAN ANYTHING, my sometimes harsh advice, my loud and sometimes over-the-top behaviors and my unrelenting work and social calendars. She knows who I am and what I am capable of beyond even my comprehension because she believes in who I am. Looking at myself through her eyes makes me believe I can do anything.
As I went through all the pictures putting this collage together, I smiled reminiscing on all the great times we've had. Our trip to Disneyworld was her first plane ride, our trips as UTOP counselors (which funded our trip to Disneyworld), her first international trip for my 30th bday (she was gorgeous in all the pics), starting the tradition of exchanging Hallmark ornaments to symbolize each year of our friendship and the places we had been that year, riding 4 wheelers on Daytona beach, running from roaches in our hotel room, dancing on tables at the bowling alley, all the good times in the condo, sitting outside on the back patio in the sun with a bonnet and a bathing suit on!! Oh my goodness, I could go on forever - a lot of memories accumulate in 14 years! I've enjoyed all of it. The good, the not-so-good, the inadvertent laughs, the hugs that quieted sobs, the gestures that warmed my heart, the random bursts into song when she's sleepy, the happy dance when she has good food, and the most beautiful smile you'll ever see. NO really - it is! She's a doll.
My spirit and my person is better for having known her and for having her choose me to love. I hope that I've been half as good to you, Tiff, as you have been to me. You deserve to be celebrated, you deserve to be recognized and to be publicly drooled over for your birthday! This is my doing ALL 3 for you! I know that it may seem that I take you for granted sometimes and I don't tell you often enough how amazing you are and how much I love you... but I hope that you know I could never exist without you in my life. For all that I do, for all that I strive to be - it is that much easier knowing that I have you in my corner. Thank you for telling me about myself when I need it, for listening when I monopolize the conversation, and for being there - most importantly - for being there.
I read a lot of friendship quotes - you know the ones..."A friend is someone that knows the song in your heart and can sing it back when you've forgotten the words." Or "A friend is someone who is there when they'd rather be somewhere else." (I'm sure this applies frequently - I can be a lot to handle) And it only reassures me in our bond because they all apply to us. She is that person. She is that friend. She goes above and beyond on EVERY occasion. GET YOU ONE!!! lol. I'm so serious!! Not mine... but see if you can find one like her!
I believe in God. I believe in soulmates. I don't believe that we were called together to walk the same path because we are different as two people can be, but I believe in order for our paths to continue - they must continue parallel to one another. In all the chaos of life and the trials and tribulations that become commonplace, I find comfort in knowing that with a batch of rice krispie treats and a bottle Christmas Red wine with my BFF - all will be right with the world. When it is just the two of us - that's the only place that I am completely bare. She knows everything about me and probably some stuff I don't even remember!! I am just Lex and she is just Tiff and that is enough! That is more than enough.
So what happens After the Morning After 14 years of friendship? You thank the Sweet Baby Jesus that you still have your BFF in your life, smile at knowing that you are blessed beyond measure, and tell your friend that you love them and appreciate them for helping you be a better you! So Tiff... I love you with my whole heart and I appreciate you beyond words. You are one of the best people that I know - and I feel honored and will always be grateful for your love and friendship. Happy Birthday, my love. I pray that your heart finds happiness, your soul finds its mate (I mean besides me) and your path leads to abundance and prosperity. I will help all of that happen in any way I can because I want to be as much of a blessing to you as you have been to me. DON'T YOU EVER LEAVE ME!!!! lol.
Stay with me!
