There are very few things that you can count on in this life. I can always count on my mailbox to have at least one piece of junk mail in it, the sun to rise, for the PGnE bill to piss me off, and finally----that whenever I get together with Moe I am going to have the time of my life. The only items on the agenda when we get together is to have fun and laugh. As you can imagine, we get together often. With an agenda like that, why would I want to do anything else? Seriously.

She brims with sheer fun and positive energy. Besides being a loyal friend, I can always count on her to make the most of out of every situation that she is encounters. Every person is glad to see her. She extends her warmth to every person that she meets. I can completely be myself with her, and I know that she accepts each and every flaw within me, and I always feel better about life after we get together. Prozac would not be in existence if everyone on this planet were to have such a friend as Moe.

So, on to discussing the big milestone: turning 40. I have no doubt that Moe will handle 40 with the same cosmic grace that she handles everything, and will fiercely attack these years with the same ferocity for the quest of fun that she has all of her life. She looks great, has a stellar attitude and is one of the most open-minded people that I know....so what will be different?

I am almost six months ahead of Moe in the aging process, so take my sage advise/experience with as much weight as you would of a teeny piece of lint, but, here is my take on what to expect:
The sweet moments carry more weight. You will worry less, and focus on what makes you happy more, because you realize time is fleeting, and 40 is when most people take stock of their lives, figure out what is worth living for, and what is not. Obligatory boring meetings and dreaded errands still need to occur (we are still living, after all) but I found myself seeking to make all of the other moments "count". Hugs from your kids and husband feel warmer, time with friends becomes more special and eventful, and love for all of those around you will fill you up in a way that it did not before.

But that is not all....here is the best part:

Fear, in general, is flying out the window. Thank God. What a waste of time it is to fear, and for some reason, this concept of not focusing on fear has become more apparent for me this year.

For example, and this is a not a very serious comparison, but here goes:

Last night, I went and celebrated another wonderful friend's birthday. We went dancing, and I have to tell you, I danced like I truly did not care who was watching, because it hit me, I didn't. I think most people are a bit self-conscious when dancing, even if they are good, and while I was wildly flailing my arms, laughing at myself and screaming out the lyrics with friends, it dawned on me that I was especially enjoying it because I didn't care what I looked like. The most paramount goal was to have a good time at that moment, and the fear of looking stupid would have derailed me.

I have quit fearing the minutia, the mundane, the weighty decisions, the worst-case scenarios because it is all a waste of precious energy and time. This has made the big 4-0 one of the best years of my life, and I know it is going to be for you, too.

Your zest of life is going to continue to bring you an abundance of love, friendship, fun times, travel, wonderment, and excitement. You deserve it all.

I love you like a sister. Thanks for always being there for me.

So, I have these two great friends having birthdays on Thursday. They are both fantastic women; beautiful, kind, thoughtful, intelligent and capable.

Jen takes any room by storm with her engaging personality. She lights up any room. Period. I have never met anyone who after meeting her didn't adore her. She can converse with anyone, and bring any person out of "their shell", so to speak, and she takes a genuine interest in the other person, and is not afraid to point out the good attributes that the person has to bring out their best. I have never seen her do anything contrary to helping another see the best in themselves, and she is always generous (yet sincere) with her kind words.

She also gives extremely sound advice, and I confer with her on many situations. I know that she will calm Chicken Little (a.k.a. me) down and coach me on how to address the problem in a wise and adult manner.

Her infectious laugh and love for silliness takes any heavy drama out of the room, and it is this love for fun that keeps her looking, oh, about 22 years old. In a word, she is amazing.




Liz would give you the shirt off of her back. I know that phrase is said often, and it is overused, but it is the best one I could come up with, and my writing is a tad rusty.

I have always envied Liz's ability to be calm, kind, and collected in any situation. She never stoops to pettiness, and she truly sees the best in others. She will quietly work behind the scenes to help people---never bringing attention to herself, and she does it simply because her heart is the size of Alaska. She never asks for anything in return.

On top of all of this, she is an abundantly loving mother. She manages three children, a career, a remodel, friends, appointments with an ease and grace that would make any C.E.O. green with envy. I hope she sees how great she is, because she is also very humble, and as endearing of a quality that is, I want her to appreciate herself---because we all do.

Finally, I am truly fortunate to have these women in my life. Happy Birthday Ladies! Enjoy your year!