Be present for presents...
I am beside myself when I think about my friends.
Once I was in a relationship where I would stomp around and complain, "You don't even treat me as good as my friends do!" and his retort was, "Its not MY fault your friends are so amazing!". They really, REALLY are amazing.
No matter what situation I am in, my friends have been there for me.. and totally supportive. Totally loving. Totally accepting. Totally understanding. They don't let me off any hooks, tell me the truth even when I dont want to hear it, and trust me to be able to handle it.
I was lucky to grow up with a mom who supported me so strongly, who has always offered genuine unconditional love for me... and Im lucky to count her as a best friend. The friends that I've met and made since childhood, though... we don't HAVE to give eachother anything, but instead we give eachother everything.. or so it seems.
For my actual birthday, I was treated to dinner and dancing by generous friends, meeting up with even more friends and family at Contra. My mom stopped by to hug me and give me a card and say the nicest things moms can say. I played geeky games all-night with my lady friends and was forced to imbibe wine, consume delicate fruits and handmade desserts for a whole WEEK because they just kept rolling in! Overwhelmed. It was a very VERY good start of June.
This week, though? Wow! Rashonda and I combined our birthdays and threw ourselves one hell of a shindig and not only did a bunch of people use the opportunity to gift me lovely things, but more things kept arriving by mail in some cosmic conspiracy to remind me just how lucky I am to have the sort of people in my life that I do.
I have ANOTHER story from my birthday party to remind me how great the people I really love are... and how shitty OTHER people can be if they set their mind to it.
(Seriously... it involves a guy being asked to leave multiple times after he wears out his welcome, tries to hit on a bunch of girls in indelicate manners, steal a bunch of beer, steal some petty cash, pass out on our kitchen floor, and leave barefoot only to drive home drunk!)
In the course of 2 days I got:
From Family -
From mom, I got a 1930s 8mm projector and her collection of 8mm films! More than 15 of them! From grandpa Gatie I got a half-gallon of Grandma's brand of vodka and some money. Its hard to keep realizing Grandma's been gone for 3 years, now.
From Friends -
Rissa made me a necklace to wear of Steve Martin because he is my not-so-secret celebrity crush. Also, she told me that she and Elise are taking me to see Joan Jett!
Then I got this amazing necklace from Hannah! She is so amazing at beadwork and its topped off with a beautiful piece of malachite.
How CONVENIENT that Dana gave me a lovely carved jewelry box! Tiffany and Gavin baked me some specialty treats and this blown glass jar that Gavin made. My friends know me too well! And to top it off... I get a THANK YOU card in the mail with a long letter from Ryan. I about busted over in half... I had just had an amazing day and been showered with kindness and then I get a thank you card?! Thank YOU, universe! Thank YOU, friends!
I got assorted wines, of which this is but one from Atheena. I had some of this chocolate wine over icecream and chocolate cake... it was AWESOME. Also, Ris was right.. she found me an amazing birthday card and even wrote me a special loving message special from her.
Ya know, Im beginning to think that people are trying to tell me something...
Then yesterday I got this in the mail!
To Zana, Best. Conan O'Brien.
Thats right, Conan wishes me 'best'! AND THEN IT HAPPENED!
I also got an autographed Fast Company magazine with Conan on the cover.
Tim and Lauren are heroic friends who delivered this from Los Angeles, as if they were magicians with legions of be-shorted postal workers at their bec and call!
Sorry, but I have no pictures of the giant birthday flan and chicken mole' made by Miss Jax, which was UNGODLY in its deliciousness.
Thank you everyone for making my whole MONTH a really great memory!
And happy birthday, Rashonda! You've been such a great friend all these years, we're at what... 13 or 4 years knowing eachother now! I can't wait to have you come Eventing again and am so ecstatic about the family you've made! Its beautiful! Thanks for sharing your awesome party with me!
Once I was in a relationship where I would stomp around and complain, "You don't even treat me as good as my friends do!" and his retort was, "Its not MY fault your friends are so amazing!". They really, REALLY are amazing.
No matter what situation I am in, my friends have been there for me.. and totally supportive. Totally loving. Totally accepting. Totally understanding. They don't let me off any hooks, tell me the truth even when I dont want to hear it, and trust me to be able to handle it.
I was lucky to grow up with a mom who supported me so strongly, who has always offered genuine unconditional love for me... and Im lucky to count her as a best friend. The friends that I've met and made since childhood, though... we don't HAVE to give eachother anything, but instead we give eachother everything.. or so it seems.
For my actual birthday, I was treated to dinner and dancing by generous friends, meeting up with even more friends and family at Contra. My mom stopped by to hug me and give me a card and say the nicest things moms can say. I played geeky games all-night with my lady friends and was forced to imbibe wine, consume delicate fruits and handmade desserts for a whole WEEK because they just kept rolling in! Overwhelmed. It was a very VERY good start of June.
This week, though? Wow! Rashonda and I combined our birthdays and threw ourselves one hell of a shindig and not only did a bunch of people use the opportunity to gift me lovely things, but more things kept arriving by mail in some cosmic conspiracy to remind me just how lucky I am to have the sort of people in my life that I do.
I have ANOTHER story from my birthday party to remind me how great the people I really love are... and how shitty OTHER people can be if they set their mind to it.
(Seriously... it involves a guy being asked to leave multiple times after he wears out his welcome, tries to hit on a bunch of girls in indelicate manners, steal a bunch of beer, steal some petty cash, pass out on our kitchen floor, and leave barefoot only to drive home drunk!)
In the course of 2 days I got:
From Family -
From mom, I got a 1930s 8mm projector and her collection of 8mm films! More than 15 of them! From grandpa Gatie I got a half-gallon of Grandma's brand of vodka and some money. Its hard to keep realizing Grandma's been gone for 3 years, now.
From Friends -
Rissa made me a necklace to wear of Steve Martin because he is my not-so-secret celebrity crush. Also, she told me that she and Elise are taking me to see Joan Jett!
Then I got this amazing necklace from Hannah! She is so amazing at beadwork and its topped off with a beautiful piece of malachite.
How CONVENIENT that Dana gave me a lovely carved jewelry box! Tiffany and Gavin baked me some specialty treats and this blown glass jar that Gavin made. My friends know me too well! And to top it off... I get a THANK YOU card in the mail with a long letter from Ryan. I about busted over in half... I had just had an amazing day and been showered with kindness and then I get a thank you card?! Thank YOU, universe! Thank YOU, friends!
I got assorted wines, of which this is but one from Atheena. I had some of this chocolate wine over icecream and chocolate cake... it was AWESOME. Also, Ris was right.. she found me an amazing birthday card and even wrote me a special loving message special from her.
Ya know, Im beginning to think that people are trying to tell me something...
Then yesterday I got this in the mail!
To Zana, Best. Conan O'Brien.
Thats right, Conan wishes me 'best'! AND THEN IT HAPPENED!
I also got an autographed Fast Company magazine with Conan on the cover.
Tim and Lauren are heroic friends who delivered this from Los Angeles, as if they were magicians with legions of be-shorted postal workers at their bec and call!
Sorry, but I have no pictures of the giant birthday flan and chicken mole' made by Miss Jax, which was UNGODLY in its deliciousness.
Thank you everyone for making my whole MONTH a really great memory!
And happy birthday, Rashonda! You've been such a great friend all these years, we're at what... 13 or 4 years knowing eachother now! I can't wait to have you come Eventing again and am so ecstatic about the family you've made! Its beautiful! Thanks for sharing your awesome party with me!