The big, fat, birthday thank-you!

When your parents only have two children and those two turn out to be twins (that you were unaware you were having) and a boy and a girl (what you always wanted), you tend to make a big deal about your kids’ birthday. It took until I got to college to realize that my parents had generally gone a little overboard in their enthusiasm about my and Jason’s birthday. Most people don’t get pancakes in the shape of your age, complete with candles on the morning of their birthday. They probably don’t get gifts at breakfast time, large amounts of cake, and the general excitement with which my parents have always celebrated our birthday. So my birthday has always been a big deal to me. I love to celebrate it, hang out with people I love. And yesterday you all went above and beyond the call of friendship to make sure I had a special day that was “all about me.” (Ask Mindy Lou Who about that if you need to.)

The day started with special gifts from Miss Emily, the best copy editor I’ve ever worked with, a sweet spirit, a girl who’s destined for greatness, and someone I’m priviledged to call friend. Thank you for being such a great part of the ec team and for the gifts yesterday. You made my morning. The cinnamon bread: perfection. The bath fizzy: can’t wait to enjoy it. The magnents: my color palette exactly. Your card: thank you! I keep cards that encourage me to read when I’m feeling down. I still have the one you wrote me after your internship here! Yesterday’s will go with it. Emily also fought the good fight and made sure I had a birthday lunch on my actual birthday!

Then came all the special birthday messages from friends near and far. Facebook, MySpace, e-mail. . . they came from everywhere! Thank you all. It felt good that so many people were thinking about me. It’s been a rough couple of months with a lot of highs and lows. Y’all are awesome!

My brother called me the first time at 6:50 a.m. yesterday. He called me about 6 more times, trying to say happy birthday before I could each time. I heart my brother! It’s an honor to share a special day with him! Then my mom called to sing me happy birthday and tell me she’d been awake around 2:15 a.m., right around the time I was born 29 years ago. Thank you, God, for blessing me with Keith and Gail Crow for parents!

Then came the big, unexpected kicker: I was having dinner out with Mindy, right? She said Rachel had plans, Janice probably couldn’t make it, and a bunch of our other friends couldn’t come. So imagine my surprise to see Rachel, Janice, and Senor Adam hiding out in a corner booth when we walk into the restaurant. (I asked Mindy for a boy—an inside joke—for my birthday. . . didn’t think she’d actually go through with it. Sorry, Adam, you’re not a piece of meat, right? Oh, you probably enjoy being talked about in such a manner!) So I got to eat my favorite pizza with my favorite people who gave my copious amounts of candy corn (my secret fave!), lots of laughs, and good hugs. And let me have coffee after 7 p.m.! And sat with my while I drank it. Thanks for the surprise and for being my friends! Love you all!