But I'm Still 29

Thirteen years ago, I was waiting outside the Plano East theatre class when I met a cool girl wearing the same sweater as me. I liked her instantly and thought maybe, even though she was a senior and I was a junior, just maybe we could be friends. Liked her even more that afternoon when I saw her get into her bright yellow car, with a cheerful personality to match.

We were inseparable that school year. In a big school like Plano East Senior High, it was nice to find someone like me. We weren't the coolest or most popular, but boy did we ever have fun. We spent our lunch period searching for enough money to buy two Lean cuisine meals from the local grocery store and eat in the theatre room with a kid that ate a tub of Cool Whip for lunch. Yes, Cool Whip. It was 99 cents and he was a big guy. We lived in the theatre department when I wasn't out at the Ag barn taking care of my sheep "Trouble." *That's a whole different story--went through an Agriculture phase for three years and raised lambs and rabbits!* We fit with the theatre crowd, going through a bit of a hippie phase (especially her with her bell bottom jeans that she had finger-painted yellow flowers all over and wore at least twice a week!).

Now, here we are 13 years later and it is Deb's 30th birthday!!!

I have had many friends come and go over the years, but none like Debbie. We've seen each other through all the milestones of our adult years--college, marriage, divorce, babies, death, well, you get the point. Besides Andrew, no one knows me like Deb. She is the person I want to celebrate with. She's the one I call when I'm having a bad day and need a ear to listen to me. And when I need to sob on the phone, my fingers immediately dial her. And I like to think it is the same on her end as well. We've cried together over all kinds of things--Allie's death, our hormones during pregnancy, crazy family members, and even a book she read called Prozac Nation (and called me in tears after finishing!). And we've laughed for hours too. And if you ever tried to count up the hours we've spent over the phone (she's only lived in the same city with me for the past three years and that first year of our friendship--all the rest was long distance with her in Austin), wow, would that ever add up! My daughter associates the phone with "Aunt Debbie," just as her daughter did at this age.

Speaking of kids--I'm blessed to be the godmother of her two awesome, unique, funny, sweet children. We love each others children as our own. We've seen each other deliver our second children. And now, she's pregnant again--and possibly with twins!! It is no secret for my friends that I LOVE newborns. Love them. Love their tiny toes, tiny hands, and soft skin. I am SO excited that Deb is having another baby (and hoping it will stay twins--we find out next week!). Maybe I will see the birth of another of her beautiful children (only if Brandon lets me, of course!)

The thing is--I know this is just the beginning of our friendship. After all these years, I still think she is one of the coolest people I know and I still LOVE being around her. So, I know without a doubt that we will be celebrating her 40th, 50th, and even 60th birthday as friends. And I may still be reminding her that I am still 59!!!

Happy Birthday, Deb! I can't believe you're 30!! Weren't we just 17 and care free just yesterday? Thank you, Deb, for 13 great years of friendship. I only hope I've been as good of friend to you as you've been to me. Love you!