It's not every day that a girl's best friend turns 33, and in honor of this once-in-a-lifetime event I present you with a list of 33 things about my friendship with Angie.
In no particular order. . .
1. Angie and I wore the exact same dress to homecoming (September 1995). The difference? She was a senior on homecoming court, and I was a lowly sophomore. We weren't even really friends then; it was just a total coincidence. It was a great dress.
2. We worked together at the drive-in movies for one summer (1996?). Fun times.
3. I was in her wedding. Five months later, she was in my wedding.
4. We celebrated one of her birthdays (was it 31?) playing BINGO at the casino.
5. We celebrated another of her birthdays (30, I think) at a Japanese steakhouse. I made her a Scrabble board decorated with words about her as a gift.
6. I was the first non-related person to hold each of her kids, and I love every second of watching and helping her be a mom.
7. I cannot wait to be 70 (me) and 73 (Angie), sitting at Angie's kitchen table, celebrating Thanksgiving with Brad and Mike. Luke and Dottie will be there too, with their own families.
8. Angie is a way-better Scrabble player than me. It kills me to admit that, but it's true.
9. We are big fans of the road trip, particularly WI road trips taken for no good reason other than lunch at P.F. Chang's or shopping or visiting cheese factories. Some of our best conversations have been in the car.
10. My dad once spent the night at Angie's college house while he was traveling for business. She is such a good friend that she put up with my dad overnight.
11. We wrote tons of cards and letters when Angie left for college and I was still in high school. I don't remember any emails; I just remember mail. I think I still have some of them. I should look.
12. We've traveled together to at least six states together: Kansas, Maryland, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
13. We talk almost every day, sometimes on the way to work. There aren't many people I'd be willing to talk to before 7 a.m.. She's just that engaging.
14. We once devised a genius plan for an advertising campaign for the Dodge Neon. Unfortunately, it was rejected.
15. We were both Badger Girls State-ers.
16. We can have a great time doing basically nothing.
17. We have different tastes in snacks. I prefer chocolate. Angie craves salt.
18. I was her date for her sixth wedding anniversary. We went to dinner at Big Tomatoes and saw Anthony Bourdain.
19. We are friends because of high school forensics. We were both orators.
20. Angie hates that I watched the last episode of
Lost. I only watched through part of Season 2 before I watched the last one. This infuriates her.
21. Angie makes me do ridiculous things because I am "the youngest." Whenever we are together and there is something she doesn't want to do, she quickly reminds me that I am the youngest.
22. Together, we
blogged our way through an entire year. It was one of my favorite things we've done together.
23. Our high school has a tradition of student speakers for a Veteran's Day assembly. Angie spoke for her class. I spoke for my class.
24. We've been friends since 1996. That's fourteen years.
25. Angie always sings along at church. She's actually a great singer. That's another thing she's much better at than I am.
26. Angie is fierce about writing thank you notes. She always sends them quickly and says meaningful, personal things. She reminds me I need to be better at this.
27. I have a copy of Angie's family's cookbook. We're such good friends that I can have the family recipes.
28. Angie can talk me into almost anything, even trying sushi.
29. Angie used to have (I think
used to is correct; I'm assuming she doesn't still have it) a huge collection of Absolut vodka ads. They decorated her dorm room. I wasn't there much, but I do remember the vodka ads and making instant mashed potatoes.
30. I once showed up at her house with two giant McDonald's Cokes. We agree that McDonald's Cokes taste different than anyone else's Cokes.
31. Angie is such a good friend that she would agree to watch our family's pets when we were gone. It pains me to admit this, but my dad had pet goats. She would feed and water the goats. Not just anyone would be willing to do that.
32. I went to Europe after high school for almost two months. Angie visited my parents while I was gone.
33. Angie is a great party hostess, and I love to be her assistant (CaCee to her Jessica). Highlights include: Headbangers' Ball, a Christmas cocktail party, and Luke's birthday party.
Happy birthday, Angie. Thank you for making me laugh, listening to me, and letting me be part of your life. I look forward to helping you celebrate many more birthdays!
