51 years ago...

...on August 14, there was a little shift in the universe as the world greeted my best friend. My own arrival wasn't until 16 months later, but it didn't matter. The stars were aligned and the Fates began to spin their threads. It was 18 years and 11 days before we would meet, but meet we did. August 25th, 1974. That was the day the threads of our lives entwined, and have since been woven into a beautiful and complex tapestry. We have shared 32 of his birthdays - 32 years of watching the boy grow into a man, growing along with him, building a marriage, a family, a life. I am the one who has received a gift each year - the gift of another year shared, and the gift of our future together.

Have I told you the story of how we met? Probably, because I love this story. It makes me laugh when I think about it, it recalls an era that has passed, those long, lazy summers of our youth. Think about hot August days, picture a horseshoe bay. A street runs along the bay - on one side the water, on the other, cabins, a skating rink, a golf course, Mom & Pop stores and restaurants. It's a summer cabin- camping-resort area. There are big old trees, and at one end is the Clamdigger - a little sit-down restaurant. At the other end is a carnival with trees all around, and across the street is The Beach Boy - a drive-up restaurant, complete with car-hops. That's right, yours truly - a carhop. Red and white striped shirt, coin-changer around the waist, the tray that hooks on the window. (No skates though). Cars pull in, flip on the headlights, I'd go out to take their order. When the food was ready, I'd carry the tray out and hang it on the window. They'd pay me and I'd make change (in my head!) as I stood there. Later, they'd flip the lights on again, and I'd go pick up the tray.

Now, imagine this - the speed limit on the road around the bay is 10 mph, and it's the summer cruising spot. Every kid in the county waits for the day they turn 16 so they can go cruise at the Bay. All summer long, the traffic crawls, cars piled with teens, music blaring, horns honking, shouts and laughter. The turn around is at the Clamdigger and the Beach Boy. I spent all my off time cruising with my friends - usually in my 1963 red Ford pick-up.

You know what happens next...the cute red-headed guy with the big smile and the Dodge Superbee pulls in, and I go out to take his order. Later, he asks his friends about me, and I ask my friends about him...Friday night rolls around, I walk out the back door and there he is, waiting. He asks the oh-so-romantic question "Do you wanna go to a party?" And I am smitten. Daring 16 year old girl, climbs in the car and off we go - to a kegger. And the rest is history. Quintessential teenage summer, don't you think?

Go on over and wish him a Happy Birthday!

Oh, and six years to the day before Eric arrived, another good friend was born- Happy Birthday to Rick too!