The Second First Time We Met

It was the fall, football was in the air, and not much could be heard above the screams of Ryan Walsh cursing the movie theater screen.  I had come down from the lake for a weekend in Chicago.  I was at the Wit Hotel at a UofM football party watching the boys in blue take on the Irish in what would become an unremarkable and forgettable season.  But one thing certainly would stick out as remarkable and unforgettable that day:  You.

I hadn't seen you since the end of college.  And here, a few years later, our paths had crossed again.  I remembered you right away.  While a few more days would have to pass before words could be properly formed between us, the impression was made.

Marisa

Lo,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIA! If you are reading this it means you are officially 30. Can you believe it? You should feel pretty amazing about it, since I hear 30's are the new 20's, and you are pretty amazing. No, VERY amazing!! 

Thank you for being such an awesome friend for the last decade plus. You are one of the sweetest, smartest, sexiest, sassiest (ok, I'm on a 's' adjective trend) people I know and are truly beautiful inside and out. I am so glad that our friendship has continued to grow strong over the years. 

From sitting on our 723 Oakland porch swing for hours after stiletto stomping our way home from Rick's (sometimes encountering construction equipment along the way) to completing half marathon's together to (classy, of course) wine tasting in beautiful Napa. Oh, and then there were the all nighters in Vegas of course! 

Thank you for always being there for me and for continually brightening up the lives of those around you. Sending lots of love this birthday week and am looking forward to celebrating with you in person!

Carrie

I could reminisce about a million different stories, but a picture tells a thousand words, so here are a few of my favorites. 

Have a wonderful time in Hawaii!! 

Carrie

PS - Post sorting through pictures... and by a few pictures, I mean 30.  Whoops!  I laughed and reminisced looking through these, and I hope she does too.  So many memories made over the years, and so many memories that we fondly referred to as "episodes" with titles..  Be sure to include the one with the doggy stuffed animal.  That's "Barkley #1's first trip to the bar".  The box pictures (aka "3 girls and a box night") are also quite remarkable. 

Brittany

Happy 30th birthday Lauren!!!  I so wish I was in San Francisco to help you celebrate!  

For your 30th, I wanted to tell you just how much I appreciate you being in my life, and how much I value your friendship.  You're an incredible person and and without a doubt one of my very close and dear friends.  Having gone from acquaintances in high school, to close friends in college, and then even closer friends post college, we've experienced so much together and there are far too many fun memories to recount.  Thank you for being such a great friend - I miss you lots and probably need to plan a trip to SF soon :) 

Happiest of birthdays to you!!  Have so much fun celebrating!!!

xoxo

Brittany

Sarah

 

Happy Birthday Lauren!!!
Today is one of my most favorite days of the year because we get to celebrate one of my most favorite people on the planet. I feel so incredibly lucky to have met you and have you in my life.  Like I told you in my bridesmaid love letter to you, I know you will be one of my lifelong friends with many glorious adventures to come. 

 

As I started looking through pictures deciding which one I wanted to share on your birthday blog, I found it impossible to pick just one and even more impossible to pick a single favorite memory because we have so many.  The day you decided to move into 723 Oakland was the BEST DAY because it solidified the fact that you would soon become one of my dearest and best friends.  

I couldn't have had a better friend to move to Chicago with. From regular shopping trips to Akira to pick out "cute tops" for the night, teaching me how to accessorize, crazy nights out, bia vacations, and lazy days on the brown couch watching movies and drinking out of our ginormous Duffy's cups.  As much as I don't like the distance, we definitely don't miss a beat when reunited and I will always love and be grateful for that.

 

My wish for you today is that you feel as loved and special as you have made me feel and all the other people in your life on special occasions and on a day to day basis. You have the biggest heart and deserve a wonderful birthday week.  I included some of my favorite pictures. Particularly, one of my favorite Lauren birthday celebrations complete with margaritas and balloons. My favorite part is when we decided to go around the table and each share what we loved the most about you. I hope this blog helps to recreate that because you are very very loved.

 

Happy Birthday Lauren!! Love you and miss you bunches!!!!

Sarah

 

Marisa

Well, I usually default to this story which I know you have heard but here it goes...

My favorite memory with Lauren goes back to College right after rushing and getting into Sigma Kappa.  Lauren and I were at a Frat party (because where else would we be :) )  and something magic happened that night; well, magic or alcohol or both, that night at Psi U, I found one of my best friends and roommates for the next year. 

Lauren and I just clicked from the very beginning and whether it was sharing our love for dance together, staying up late talking about everything under the sun, sharing a cocktail of diet coke and Bacardi as a per-party cocktail before a fun night out, or something as simple and weird as eating oyster crackers dipped in mustard and ketchup while watching General Hospital after Women's studies, Lauren was with me. 

But it wasn't just all the silly times we had in the sorority house that brought us together, but a bond that went so much further.  Lauren and I have carried on this friendship for almost 10 years now.  We have grown up a bit from those silly sorority girls at that frat party, but one thing remains the same, no matter where we are, Chicago, Michigan or California, we are together.  Lauren is family and on her 30th birthday, I wish my very good friend nothing but a year full of happiness and love because that is exactly what she deserves. 

Love you Lo,

xoxo

Maris

Heather

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Happy 30^th Birthday to my amazing Birthday Twin! Lauren, you are such a wonderful person inside and out and I feel lucky that we get to share getting old togetherJ.  You are easy going, funny, sweet, sincere, and always up for an adventure. We have come a long way from black out nights at ricks and late night food runs. I look forward to many more birthdays together.  I hope that your 30^th birthday is extra special just like you!

Xoxo

 Heather

Annie

Carrie B

Happy 30th Birthday Lauren!

From days spent at Dominics drinking sangria to attending more weddings than either of us can count,

We've drudged through the good and the bad, yet in the end a wonderful life we were able to surmount.

Although we've all accomplished so much since college and have made changes for the best,

We'll always cherish or sweaty nights on the Rick's dance floor and love our champions of the west.

Hoping for many more weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers in the following years,

And wishing you the happiest 30th birthday celebration from afar - CHEERS!!! :)

xoxo, Carrie

Keggie

Lauren Love,

Eric asked for my favorite memory or story of you.  My favorite memory of you definitely has to be my first.  Perfect shiny hair, bucky's, Abercrombie jeans and sweater.  You're going to be my friend.  It's so funny for me to remember that shy girl in Spanish class and look at the amazing person you have become.  What a long and amazing journey.  I clearly have tons of other memories, but we can leave them in our teens and 20's where they belong ;)

Thanks for always being the absolute best friend a girl could ever ask for. I look forward to celebrating another 30 years of having your amazingness in my life.  

I love you, mutant!  How would you sit if you were a mutant?

The First Time We Met

As we embark on our Hawaiian adventure, i recall all the adventures we've had along the way.  From dance parties in the rain, to romps across the lake, to snowed in mountain cabins, to big city bopping, and cross-country road trips, we've covered some ground.  So in the never-ending quest to tell you how much i love you, i give you this on your birthday: Something about love.

I always think back to how many times we almost met.  From countless crossings we may have had up at the lake, to a definite cameo by yourself in the back of a St Patty's Day picture, we finally made our connection.  For me, i met you in college.

So there we were, my roommates and myself, trying to do our best 80s impressions: sport coats, pastel polos, aviators, gun holsters made from duct tape.  We were cool.  Oh, and by the way, my friend is bringing a friend my roommate informs me.  And they're dressing up with us.  Dressing up this night meant a 'gang' theme.  Those of use on the main floor of 1008 were rocking Miami Vice.  The goofballs on the 2nd floor were gladiators.  Tin foil, cardboard, and hilarity.  The basement and the 3rd floor had teamed up in something i can only recall in the mental picture of a mullet and a maroon leather jacket.  

With a knock on the door, two girls walked in: Green fedoras, black tank tops, and a sequined napkin attempting to be a skirt.  Damn, the friend is cute, i thought.  While the party lasted late into the night, you were only there for but a flash.  A chance meeting not to be repeated until another time and another place.  Fate is certainly fickle.  Now it was your turn to meet me.