Happy Birthday Friend

I read a birthday post on Friday and while I was initially a little taken back by the unashamed praise I was impressed by the frankness and the kind words.  It really resonated with me in that I feel like oftentimes as life keeps us busy we forget to SAY all the warm and fuzzy things we feel about our loved ones.  I hope it's not too macabre a thought but how often do you sit at a funeral and think to yourself, "I wish fill-in-the-sad-blank was here to hear all the beautiful words being said about them".

Neen's random musings have inspired me to follow the advice of her parents' anthropologist friend who believes in "the importance of using significant events like birthdays to tell people how you feel about them".  So as there is no better time than the present let me say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend Nadine (Naids) who turned 31 (still young enough to mention age I say) today and tell you why I'm lucky she moved back into my neighbourhood and we became friends.

 Mr. B and Naids waiting for the water taxi on the Hudson last month.

Naids is calming.  Did I mention I was NOT getting on a flight that took me 13+ hrs over the Pacific Ocean without her being on it too.  Turns out I was a much calmer passenger than I thought I was going to be but I didn't know that from the onset and was so grateful to be embarking on such a long-haul adventure with Naids only seats away. 

Naids is genuinely kind.  She strives for peace.  She really does and I think every group of friends needs someone like this in their midst.  It's grounding and reminds someone like me who can be too opinionated that in many cases peace is better than getting to the core of the agitated nitty gritty.

Naids checks in on how Weight Watchers is going for me.  6 months in and that's no small feat, weight loss has to be one of the most boring side notes to life (unless you're the one struggling with it!) yet she remembers to ask and encourage.

Naids is actively involved in her church.  She's not sitting in a pew going through the motions but is in there with her sleeves rolled up trying to make it a better place for her children to grow up in.  I admire that.

Naids reads my "shitty little blog" (pop over here and read the first comment) which is not steeped in gravitas but it's my little stamp on the world so it's important to me in that way.  

Happy birthday Naids, 31 cements your place in the thirties and I for one think they are so much better than your twenties so three cheers :)

Nicolex