Melissa & me at The Girly Show in February.

You called me at the eleventh hour in 1990 telling me you wanted to join me on my backpacking adventure in Europe, even though that meant quitting your job.
You took care of on those rare, few and far between occasions when I had a wee bit too much to drink in college.
You laugh at my sarcasm.
You came to my hen night, my wedding and my biggest art show, all within a eight-month period, which meant flying across the country on exhausting red-eye flights.
Your house is a walk through my artistic career, as you’ve saved every creation I’ve ever given you and you’ve supported my work from day one.
You never mind when I cry.
John.
Because I know you are dying to figure out how you could send me a full suit of armor.
You’ve been there, over and over again.
You’ve seen me at my best.
You’ve seen me at my worst.
Virginia Tech.
If I call you and I’m upset, you always call back within 24 hours to make sure I’m OK.
You send me the funniest cards.
Ingo and Dimitris.
You napping on the deck of my cottage in Santa Barbara every afternoon during that visit.
Sitting in your kitchen until after noon on a winter day in our pajamas & robes, drinking coffee and talking.
You loaned me not one, but two tutus for Burning Man.
Just Keep Swimming…
Parallel lives.
Because when you get grouchy over silly, mundane things it makes me feel very normal.
For taking such good care of me on my wedding day.
The road trip to Carol’s wedding.
Old Town.
We both love George.
The Virginia Tech – UVA game after our trip to Europe.
You took care of me after my surgery in 1990.
You let me bitch, whine moan and groan and still like me.
Buying leather jackets in Florence.
The Fifth Column.
Because you were the honorary BFF at The Girly Show.
Upside down margaritas.
Brian and Cliff.
Blacksburg, Alexandria, Athens, Philadelphia, Santa Barbara, Raleigh and Los Angeles.
Finding our way back to each other after an unexplainable few years of distance.
Atlas Shrugged.
Our moms.
Visiting Ground Zero in NYC.
Because you are brave, wise, beautiful, silly, loyal, compassionate and funny, and when I grow up I want to be more like you.
Because you are my friend, and this will always be true.

Happy, Happy Birthday.