JEREMY 

You get to choose your spouse, but not your in-laws. Luckily I ended up with a terrific brother-in-law in Jeremy. He’s smart. Really smart. Too smart. It’s crazy how much this man knows.  I consider myself pretty sharp, but listening to him discuss just about any topic with a precise recall of the facts is enough to make my head spin. I’ve lost track of how many languages he speaks. I refuse play him at Scrabble. 

But there’s more to Jeremy than smarts. He’s one of the most easy-going people I know. There is a contentedness about him. He’s happy, and it shows. He’s kind and generous, not just to those he loves but to anyone in need. His beliefs are strongly held, but without a need to judge or condemn. He understands that everyone is making their own way in this world. He’s happy to walk beside those around him and strike up a conversation, even if their path diverges from his own. It’s rare and refreshing to know someone so comfortable in his own skin. 

He teaches, he translates, he fixes computers, he’s a caring father and husband, and so much more. He biggest flaw is that he’s too far away. (And I’m guessing he might call that one my fault.) I look forward to when I can see him again. I predict late nights, long chats and me losing at games. I can’t wait. 

Happy Birthday Wonderful You. 

KEITE 

Clever and devilish. Sultry and sensational. Packed with talent that swells up and flows out and will not be contained. Haunted by a few demons that do the same. At once hopeful and skeptical.  A good heart kept well protected. A woman in search of herself. And in bloom.

A love of beauty. A blindspot when it comes to her own.  Both outside and in, an absolute knockout. Impatient. Gracious. A sharp wit. Seeks and finds thrills in the tiny spaces between the big movements of life.

More than she seems. More than she knows. Deserving of the love that surrounds her and so much more. An acquired taste, rare and precious and wonderful. A unique blend. A woman all her own.

Happy Birthday Wonderful You! 

***

Two weeks after I wrote this, I found out Keite was in the hospital dying of liver failure. I visited her that night, and the next day she was gone. I’m heartbroken. I still can’t process it. 

This world is a little bit dimmer at the loss of her. Goodbye friend.

- Angela 

JENNIFER 

There are people in that go through life as if it were happening all around them, observing it, wading in now and again, but mostly treading lightly and hanging back. And there are those who know that they ARE life. Every day belongs to them. And life’s too short to ask for permission, to worry about ruffling feathers. You just point yourself in a direction and go. If you fall, you pick yourself up, console yourself with a margarita, and try something new. You don’t need to spend much time with Jen before you figure out which way she moves in this world.

I don’t know anyone who is so direct, warm, funny, loyal, positive, fearless and wonderful as Jen.   She can make anything into a great time. Waiting for a lane at the bowling alley or shopping at Lucky become the most memorable nights. She has an energy that’s infectious. You can’t be around Jen very long and not have fun. It’s impossible. But she’s so much more than just a party friend. Jennifer is a friend for life. Her heart is as big as her smile, and she will drop everything to be there when you need her, with a shoulder to cry on or a bottle of wine or whatever will help.

Our lives have changed from those free-wheeling single days. Kids and moves and la vida loca means less Jennifer in my life.  Over the years I’ve seen this wild child evolve into a dedicated mother who shares in her children’s joys and struggles. But don’t think for a minute that that party girl is gone. She still knows that life is what you make of it, and she’s determined to enjoy as much of it as she can.

Happy Birthday Wonderful You! 

ADINA 

In high school I was fortunate enough to hang out with a group of bright young woman who were as equally nerdy as me. We liked school - really liked school: reading ahead in our assignments, doing every bit of extra credit even though we already had an A in the class, getting together to study even though we already knew the material. But Adina, she was more than just bookish. She excelled in whatever she did. When she wasn’t practicing gymnastics, she played piano, volunteered with animals, learned languages, she was even a cheerleader. I don’t know when she ever slept.

We stayed in touch during college. We had a terrific summer visit to New York City, hitting every tourist spot by day and sneaking our way into bars at night. On that trip I began to see a different side of Adina. Those teenage insecurities were giving way and a poised, confident, beautiful woman was emerging. The following year I visited her at UCLA and found a woman so comfortable in her own skin that it was almost a shock. With her close-cropped hair and her long lean style she reminded me of Audrey Hepburn. And it wasn’t just her beauty. It was the irresistible charm of someone who is doing what she loves on her terms, with a wise, wide smile.

We’ve kept in touch only a few time over the years, but I know that if I had a chance to sit with Adina over a glass of wine we’d pick up just where we left off. She’s terrific like that.

Happy Birthday Wonderful You! 

DENZIL 

There is no one quite like Big D. For starters, he never ages. In the 8 years I’ve know him it seems like he’s always turning 26. He’s also crazy. That fearless kind of crazy that doesn’t see anything unusual about diving 300+ feet, or racing and fixing and racing jalopies in a 24-hour endurance race, or jumping off of a two-story deck onto the roof of a bouncy house to liven up a kid’s party.

The internet also reveals that in the last few years he’s dabbled in go-kart racing, co-authored a tech book in the “For Dummies” series, discovered a shipwreck, acquired a ham radio license, helped to develop a brake adapter for cyclocross riders, and dressed up as both a donkey-boy and a ladybug. Just to name a few. And if he needs a specialized bit of gear to take his current passion to the next insane level, he doesn’t buy it. He *makes* it. (What, you don’t have your own industrial metal lathe to machine custom parts that you invent in your spare time?) All this on top of a high-pressure job and a family. I did mention the crazy part, right?

Now don’t get me wrong. There is more to Denzil that X-treme sports and insane inventions. He also loves stirring up trouble, throwing fuel to the fire, and any other metaphor you can think up for messing with people. It’s an art form for him. How un-PC can he be? How finely can he tread the line between clever comment and downright insulting?  It’s a trait that takes some getting used to. I’ll admit being pissed off more than a few times by Denzil’s antics. But it’s hard not to come around and see it the way he does - a bit of fun at the expense of social niceties. He crosses the line now and again (and again!) but crossing lines is a big part of this man’s DNA.

So we’ve got an intense, intelligent, uber-active guy who loves shaking things up. Much more than all that, he’s a dedicated friend. He will drop anything to help a buddy with a home repair or to pull a car out of a ditch. He’s tough on those he loves, but he loves with that same intensity he pours into his other pursuits. To see him tear up at the sight of his beautiful bride is to see the true man. Or check him out as he smiles at his two adorable and feisty girls. He’s never going to be everyone’s BFF, but those that count Denzil as a friend know how lucky they are.

Happy Birthday Wonderful You! 

VANESSA 

There was a once quirky woman I knew from the internets, infamous for her typos, her fierce defense of what she believes, and an easy charm that made reading her posts a joy.  As is it with my ragtag and widely-flung bunch of internet pals, it was years before I met this fidh in person. She did not disappoint. Her tiny frame holds a very big brain - sharp and devious enough to take over the world but fortunately  content to listen to heartbreak country and angry girl pop on crazy road trips. Seriously, her travel itineraries are masterpieces of the bizarre, the undiscovered, the well-trodden and the extremely delicious. 

I am simultaneously in awe and at ease with Vanessa. She’s not one to back off from her position, and as a non-confrontational wimp I can only sit back and admire her grit. She loves life, the experience of it, getting out into it and sitting back to enjoy it swirling around her. At least that’s what it seems on those rare occasions when we get together. We sit, drink, talk, sing, laugh. Laugh a lot. You can never have too many people like that in your life.

Happy Birthday Wonderful You! 

SARAH 

Why don’t I have more Sarah in my life?  We don’t hang out nearly often enough, but when we do it’s always a good time. We can hang out at the last minute, doing nothing more than dinner and drinks at Casa Hedges, and it makes for one of the most enjoyable evenings imaginable. (If not a wicked hangover the next morning…) There is a special kind of kinship that comes from being able to hang out and do nothing and have it be a great time. 

Sarah is funny and smart, at once poised and decidedly wacky. I like being around people that smile, and she’s got a beaut. No surprise, since she’s so beautiful. I am shocked at how amazing she looks even after fencing a fierce bout. When you’re drenched in sweat, wearing no makeup, and can still turn heads, you’ve got it going on.

These days my life so firmly revolves around my kids that I can’t keep up with the young and free, but that’s no excuse. I need more Sarah in my life!

Happy Birthday Wonderful You! 

CHERYL 

Take me back to the single days, hanging with my ladies any night of the week, margarita happy hours, wine tasting parties that broke down into drunken conga lines. That’s when I met Cheryl. She was the high school friend of my closest friends, just moved back to the Bay Area. Instantly she struck me as sweet, friendly, and warm-hearted. Plus she was no slouch at parties.

Fast forward a few years, and we’re all settling down. There are fewer girls’ nights, but we’re all still there for each other. When children arrive on the scene, Cheryl - a twin herself - is blessed with twins. I could make a joke about being “cursed” with twins, but if anyone could handle the challenge it’s Cheryl. Under her pretty petite frame is one tough and loving mama. I’ve never seen anyone take to motherhood as calmly and naturally. I was impressed then, and now that I’m a frazzled mother I admire her even more. 

The wife of a Marine who has been deployed overseas several times, she’s had to be a rock for her family and sacrifice so much of herself. When her husband was stationed in Southern California the family moved, adding two more kids to the pack as time went on. I haven’t seen much of Cheryl since the move, and busy lives mean we don’t keep in touch much. But I always think of her strength, her amazing mothering, and those long-ago wild times.

Happy Birthday Wonderful You! 

ANN 

When you first meet someone, you only see one side of who they are. I met Ann at a play date in the park. With twins just my son’s age, she calmly managed two while I pulled my hair out chasing after just one. She struck me as a grounded, realistic and fun mom. For a while, that was all I knew of Ann. 

Now when I look at her I still see a dedicated mother of two, but I also see: A creator of adorable knitted objects, be it a tiny chicken, impossibly cute sushi, or darling cardigans for her girls. An everyday gourmet who delights in discovering and perfecting new recipes. A witty, bright techie with an easygoing air, even when she’s frazzled. A lover of board games and good books and silly songs. A busy woman who will drop everything to help a friend in need. 

And these are just the things my overtired mom brain can think up. There is so much more to her. Mostly I’m glad to count her as a friend.

Happy Birthday Wonderful You! 

HEIDI 

I can close my eyes and find myself in Paris, crossing the Seine onto a tiny island, turning left at a cobblestone street, walking into a tiny crepe shop in the shadow of Notre Dame Cathedral. I order a crepe Provençale with fried goat cheese and spinach, a large bottle of hard cider, and a dessert crepe of fresh berries and delicate creme anglais. And across from me sits Heidi. 

My guide in Paris. My drinking buddy in the bier gardens of Munich. Cracking open lobsters in Boston followed by Irish folk tunes at the Black Rose. Caipirinha happy hours at Cascal. A four-day trip home on a chartered bus after the 9/11 attacks stranded us on the East Coast.  As a former coworker, she kept business trips and work days from being boring. As a friend, she keeps just about every moment from being boring. She radiates with a beauty and spirit that stand out from the ordinary.

Journeys with Heidi were always easygoing and adventurous. They say a person you can travel with is a friend for life.  Job changes and motherhood and busy lives make for a lot less Heidi in my life. But every time I think of my favorite places on the planet, my friend Heidi is there. 

Happy Birthday Wonderful You! 

PAUL 

My brother Paul was always shy but incredibly creative, funny and smart. Growing up, he would rally the neighborhood kids into performing skits he’d written, or lead us all in improvisational comedy sketches that we’d  record on our Radio Shack cassette player. He was always coming up with something new, and my sister and I would follow along. Spoof family newsletters, a comic book series mocking our next-door neighbors, even an entire television channel line-up parodying the crazy  shows of the time.

His gift for finding the humor in the absurdities of the everyday has continued to serve him well. His most frequent targets growing up were infomercials, with hyperactive pitchmen making wild claims. With the rise of the internet, Paul started  website for his hilarious reviews of wacky and outrageous “exclusive TV offers.” After a while he noticed a lot of people who landed at his site were actually looking to buy the products, and a business was born. He’s been so successful that he now works from home, mixing a carefully crafted business model with his sharp satire of the latest as-seen-on-TV crazes.

Search Google for terms like infomerical, FlowBee, Magic Bullet, Richard Simmons, and his website comes up on the first page of results. His YouTube channel has over 6 millions views. His blog posts were often picked up by the Best Week Ever blog. And, most importantly, he’s been able to figure out how to make a good living from it all. 

I’ve always been proud of my big brother. He’s talented writer, a dedicated entrepreneur and a caring husband. It’s hard to believe he’s 40 today. I still see a clever kid keeping everyone laughing. 

Happy Birthday Wonderful You! 

JANET 

I could go on and on about how fun Janet is, how bright and driven, how generous and warm-hearted. But if you’re reading this you probably know Janet, and if you know her you already know all this is true. How her smile makes those around her smile too. What a dedicated mother she is. How much she gives of herself.  And on and on and on. If I keep going I might not stop until her next birthday.

So instead I’ll just say that when I think of her, I remember wine tastings that bear more than a passing resemblance to Girls Gone Wild.  Disco cabanas and drunken karaoke, girls’ nights and bachelorette weekends, Sharks games and rockin’ concerts, cookie parties and book clubs and hot tubbing late into the night.  An epic Winter Olympic experience. A wonderful time any time I see her. 

Happy Birthday Wonderful You!