A toast

Well, girlie, here you are at 30 and who can believe it? We've come a long way, baby. Remember talking outside Dr. Hamm's office door that first time I accompanied for your voice lesson and you had to tell me your name AGAIN even though we had already met several times. You were the very cool friend of Erin and Julie. . .

Then, that first semester all kinds of things happened, and we emerged at the end of it, faces set to the future and towards each other. I'm remembering meal after meal after meal in the Great Hall, shopping dates, movie dates, dinner dates, lunch dates; Valentines Day; staying with your folks over Fall break; sharing a room on 4th South, you and Matt starting to date (What? I'm not invited??); then I go off to France for a semester, leaving you to hold down the fort. I remember driving back to Covenant late that summer and getting a phone call at my cousins' place in St Louis - "I'm engaged!" And then, wedding stuff, plans, anxieties, waiting, more plans and more waiting. Meanwhile, my own romance had started which you loved and supported me through. And then your Big Day finally came and you were beautiful.

Remember when Jeannette and I came to visit you guys in Philly? I felt so grown up having a real live married friend who worked in the big city and knew her way around it like the back of her hand...well, of course, your sense of direction and mine being what they are, that's no surprise to you.

But then, the icing on the cake, you guys end up in Saint Louis and we get to spend more life together, but this time as married couples, college behind us, trying to navigate through the real world of work, marriage and community. It made for sweet moments and more sweet memories.

Thank you for being my faithful friend these last 10 years. I'm glad to have shared so much of my life with you. Happy Birthday! And here's to you, my dear!

Bryonie Moon