Happy Birthday, Darling.
holiday I have been sitting at home today celebrating a birthday. To celebrate this birthday I have gotten up out of bed, eaten ice cream for breakfast, tuna salad for lunch, showered this afternoon, and now sit in my underwear (with wet hair) typing this blog. This may not seem like the typical celebratory pattern for a birthday, but I can assure it is a good, sincere jesture. All while doing my regular daily activities I have been caught in a reminiscent wandry concerning the person who was born on this day twenty-two years ago. My mind has traveled back, today, to a different day, when we were different people-- the people who would become who we are today.
I first met Breanne Dawn McKinney when I was Maggie Ann McKinney, 11 years old and on my way to the first year of Middle School. It was the summer, a summer of grass stains and bike rides to vacation bible school. We were in the same vacation bible school class. That was me (Maggie Ann), Breanne Dawn, and Chanel Renee.
Those programs, attracting pink tan, sweaty hand, mini-protestants, would run one week-- Monday through Saturday. A work week of studying and preparing, and then a program Saturday evening. Then we were spit shined, wet headed, mini-evangelists. I remember Chanel wore overalls, with red mini-mouses, and red hair clips in her strait brown long hair. We met that summer, first.
We met, second, that fall. It was Middle School band class. I decided, "I'll play the clarinet." She decided, she'll play the clarinet. There we were sitting. He calls, "Breanne McKinney," my head turns. He calls, "Margaret McKinney," her head turns. There we are, two McKinneys with clarinets. What are the odds? We meet again. We are fast friends.
That was ten years ago.
Dear Breanne Dawn,
We met ten years ago! Can you believe it? You have been in my life for ten years! That is the longest of anyone outside of my family, besides Chanel (you and her tie). You and her. Me, you and her we are family. We've stuck through it haven't we? Through the thick and the thin of it. Can you believe it? We have been in each others lives for ten years?
Today, on the day that you turn twenty-two, I realized that and it all came flooding back to me. All of our times together-- staying weekends at each other's houses. You know how I can be grumpy in the morning. All our notes, our secret names. Our lives all entwined.
Our lives are still entwined these days. Though at times I think the lines that connect us are thinned by the age of time. Yet it is still as strong, our hearts are still tied twice as tight. We are forever.
Happy Birthday Darling. I love you.
Love, Margaret Ann.
Me and Breanne, September 2004.
Reader Comments (4)
Ok, now you have me crying at the library Maggie after reading that. That was really sweet :)
Jennie
Wow......yeah, I'm crying and that is all I can say.
I have no words. Only tears.
Chanel Renee
I just want to run to Missouri and give you a hug.
Breanne