Keira-anne.com

A few days ago, I sent off an e-mail to solicit someone’s mother into sharing with me dated and embarrassing photographs. Lucky for today’s birthday girl, mom had none.

I was fortunate enough on my birthday last month to be honoured in the online realm by a very wonderful friend. However, now it’s January 9th, so it’s Becky’s turn.

Photo: Miss604 on Flickr

I suppose I could share the story of how our friendship came to be, but she already covered that territory in her post about your humble narrator. What she didn’t tell you was the unique way in which our friendship evolved. It’s one of the things I appreciate most about our friendship.

Typically, when you meet a new girlfriend and find ways in which to instantly connect, it’s much like letting the floodgates of friendship open. A closeness is forged reallyreallyreallysuperduper fast, and before you know it, you’re gushing the praises of the newfound friendship far too early.

Dun, dun, dun…

Photo: Miss604 on Flickr

The first time I met Becky was in August of 2006 at a mutual friend’s home. I would not see her again until nearly six months later in Gastown where, though we were hanging with mutual friends, not more than a few words were exchanged. What’s odd is that we didn’t actually “click” right away. I think we’re both very shy girls in a few ways and we really didn’t know what to make of each other.

Finally, after a bit of e-mailing and online chatting, we had our first “date” in the late spring/early summer of 2007 with a trip to Coquitlam’s Kwik-E-Mart. It was the kind of fun outing where you’re excited to be getting to know a new friend, but at the same time trying to dance gracefully through the first few awkward silences.

Photo: Miss604 on Flickr

All technical glitches aside, it took next to no time at all for us both to realize the many, many things we had in common: everything from being girlie deluxe, loving hockey games, really loving beer, really, really loving the camera and our piercing blue eyes.

From there, it was a landslide of beach dates, guacamole, eating hot dogs, suntanning our sweater kittens at Jericho Beach, sitting on the laps of old men in red suits, crying over spilled beer, snowboarding adventures and more than I care to share. Wouldn’t you like to know…

Photo: duanestorey on Flickr

Today is her last birthday before her “last birthday ever,” and I am more than honoured to be able to pay tribute to someone who has proven herself to be a devoted and caring friend ten times over. This is to Becky, who among things is nothing short of the following:

Photo: Miss604 on Flickr

Our adventures together have been nothing short of a divine ride for me, Mrs. Bollwitt. What’s even greater is that I know we have so much more to look forward to in the near (and hopefully very distant) future. I hope this day serves to remind you of how important you are to so many, how loved you are and how much one hot blonde chick in the West End really appreciates you.