Laura's Birthday

Last week, at Henry's Zumba (it's what he calls his music class??), the teacher announced the date for the annual Halloween Party. "Mark your calendars, mommies...we've pinned down a date for the dress-up-boogie-down-trick-or-treat good time." Say whaaaaaa...hold up, sister. Do you mean to tell me that September is gone?

Evidently, that's exactly what she meant to tell me.

And, with the passing of September comes the entrance of October and with that comes, well, one of my most favorite days of the whole year. I'll give you a hint...it's not Halloween. While Halloween is absolutely one of my favorite holidays, this other day of which I speak, it's just a day...no nationally recognized holiday...just a day like any other. Except it's not. And calling it "just a day" does it no justice at all.

It's the day that kicks off the best holidays of the year for me (who remembers that post from last year?). It's a day full of memories of happiness and simple times. It has been that way for me for 7 years...although, as I type this, my memory is blurring on precisely how we celebrated that first year. Somebody help me out on that. I do remember, though, that 6 years ago on this day, a group of law school friends decided not to care about homework or stress or life or school nights, the chill in the air...or the sanctity of trying out for law journal. baahaha. And 5 years ago, those very same friends laughed until their stomachs hurt over sushi and hot spit (or whatever that sick drink is that you crazy people drink at sushi bars). And that every year since we graduated, this day has not passed without acknowledgment.

It's October the 5th, people, and it's Laura H***'s birthday.

Now, I realize that roughly 3/4 of the readers of my blog don't know Miss Laura, and that's okay. You don't have to know her to follow me on this.

Let me start here: I love her. :)

And I love her birthday. I love it because she was so happy and grateful for those little homemade parties we gave her in school. I love it because Laura is the kind of friend you LOVE to see happy and surprised and tickled and celebrated. I love it because it's almost always accompanied by good weather. I love it because it reminds me of our law school 'group'. I love it because it's orange and gold and red and tan and crisp and sunshiny and good. I love it because it looks perfect in a Grove tent bedecked with white lights. I love it because it doesn't always require a present. I love it because it doesn't even require a phone call. I love it because almost every person who celebrated with us in '05 has called me in Octobers since with a, "Hey, remember that time we had that surprise party for Laura and we...." I love it because it, somehow, turned into a tradition that we all silently celebrate from Texas to the Middle East. But, mostly, I love it because I love Laura (the reasons why I do will have to wait for another post :).

And after seven years of ups and downs and round and rounds, we're still all here, my friend (yep, she reads here). No ooey-gooey cheesy sentiment to close this thing, DON'T YOU WORRY (Laura no likey cheesy sentiment)...just one more "I love ya and I love your birthday and I hope it was perfect and I wish I coulda been there to sing the song and see your face alit in birthday glee...maybe next year."

Happiest of birthdays to my dear friend, Lou...and Happy October 5th to everyone else. Now, the party that is 2010 can really begin.