When I was little, I would beg my mom for a twin sister. No matter how many times she explained to me the impossibility of that request, I would wish and beg on. And no amount of persuading me that sisters are not as fun as they sound would interfere with my dreaming of all the fun we would have and all the clothes we would share.
I was not meant to be born as a twin, but thankfully, about a decade and a half after pestering my mom to give me a twin sister, I found something that I now believe is better. Sarah is my heart twin, the sister that was not born into but has become a part of my family. Experiences with her have far surpassed any dream I had for fun having and clothes sharing. She has been right at the center of all my most important occasions, supporting me and cheering me on. She has been at the center of even more of my most fun and treasured memories.
Sarah has figured out the magic balance of going along with my plans to indulge me while, at the same time, challenging me to be spontaneous and flexible. In the same way, during more serious times, she lets me explore what I think and respects my perspective but is never afraid to share hers. She's my most extroverted friend, but time with her can sometimes still count as introvert time.
My best friend is the most joyous person I know, seeing every new day as an opportunity to love God and others. She brings life and fun into all things, including, amazingly, that one time she came with me to tour a mortuary for extra credit in a class I was taking. She jumps in like that, welcoming herself into any situation and subsequently being welcomed because of the gifts of joy and laughter and life she brings to any situation.
God brought you into my life at just the right time, bess frenn. Thank you for years of special memories and gut wrenching laughter. You will forever be one of my favorite people, someone who loves me for exactly who I am and builds me up to be someone better, someone who rushes to my side when anything awful happens not to fix me or bring a band-aid or say the right things but to simply cry with me and hurt with me and hug me, someone who understands my humor but laughs with me even when you don't, someone who my life would be grey and dull without. Thank you for putting effort into actively being in my life and sharing yours with me, even from so far away. Thank you for supporting my dreams and having grace for my shortcomings. Thank you for all you've taught me and all the adventures you've taken me on. You are the treat that never gets old. Happy, happy birthday, BCP.
