HAAAAAAAPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!

Today is my best friend, April's birthday!!!!!!!!!  April and I met when we were in high school (junior year, to be exact).  I will never forget it...after grade school, I developed an insane case of shyness and would get so nervous talking to anyone.  My worst class was PE because you actually had to talk to other people.  I remember walking down the hallway and seeing this punk standing there.  She had on a half shirt (well, close enough) with a long flannel over it, what I remember being ACID-WASHED jeans, tennis shoes and a look on her face that clearly stated she was too cool for us.  I was immediately intimidated and intrigued.  My friend, Jaime befriended her and asked her to go to lunch with us.  We hit it off immediately.  The next year and a half of high school was filled with lunch at her house, going to the movies and talking about how we couldn't wait for college and getting out of small town southern Illinois.  We were roommates for two years in college, as well.  Yes, there were plenty of times we wanted to kill each other, but those were the most awesome two years of my life.  Boys, parties, gossip, shopping, friends...what a time we had!!!

April introduced me to my husband.  I held her and let her cry on my shoulder through the rough times with hers (before they were married).  April and I had our babies within months of hers (my first, her second one) so we shared pregnancy together.  We've been through so much together.  I remember 9/11 in our house...we just sat there on the couch together in disbelief, thankful for what we had.  April, my sister Ann and I used to ditch class together in college and hang out in the Student (Stupid) Center.  April and Ann would work on Spanish together while we giggled away the hour.  My sister Ann was a huge part of our pact in all of these shenanigans, as well.  We even all worked for the same company and shared our complaints, our joys, and our stories with each other.

April, we have been best friends for over 15 years now.  You are like my third sister.  I know we don't talk as much as we used to and we live too far apart from each other; but I love you so much.  Thank you for being an awesome friend, my partner in crime, my confidante, my GIRL for so long.  I LOVE YOU!!!!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!



(back in the day)