It's your birthday? "That's What I Heard!"

Imagine the coolest, funniest, loudest, most outgoing, kindest, most gorgeous and most artistic person you can imagine.  Congrats, you've just imagined my best friend, Gabby Edmond! And you've probably guessed it....today is her 21st birthday! :)

one of my favorite pictures 

When I was 15 years old, I moved to Colorado from Hawaii, and at the beginning, absolutely hated it.  My first day of school at Air Academy I was still trying to soak everything in and accept the fact that I'd have to make new friends, when a girl in my math class, Alison, invited me to come eat lunch with her group of friends.  Even though I haven't spoken to her since that month freshman year, I guess I owe it all to Alison for introducing me to the girl who has become one of my best friends, Gabby.  So Alison,  if you're out there somewhere, thank you.  Let me describe my first memory of meeting Gabby:

Scene: Little corner next to the cafeteria, tons of unfamiliar people are sitting in a circle playing cards.  I notice Alison and walk over.

Me: Hey Alison!
Alison: (not recognizing me at first) Oh...um, hey Anne... (goes back to playing cards)

I sit down in the group, feeling kind of weird and out of place. This bubbly and extremely friendly girl notices me and....

Gabby: HI! I'M GABBY!  WHAT'S YOUR NAME???
Me: Uh, Anne...
Gabby: SWEET!
Alison: Oh, yeah, everybody this is Anne, she just moved here.
Gabby: REALLY? WHERE did you move here from?
Me: Hawaii....
Gabby: COOL!  Where do you live?
Me: Oh, here on base, on Buttercup Drive.
Gabby: Word? I live on Hawthorne! We should be friends!

getting ready for prom 

Okay, so I don't remember word for word, but the conversation went something like that.  Basically, I remember thinking, "oh thank goodness! someone super nice goes to school here and wants to be my friend!  And I'm pretty sure we ended up walking home from school together until we both got licenses. And then Gabby would drive me home all the time, even after she moved off base.  I don't know how I would have made it through high school without this girl.  She just has that ability to liven up any situation. Throughout the years, she's really been one of my favorite people and when I'm not in Colorado I miss her soooo much.  She's one of the few people that I really feel like I can be my true, honest-to-goodness self around without having to worry about what someone might think about me.  Gab, here are some of my all time favorite memories with you:

1. That time we were in the parking lot after school and you were driving me home and someone started backing into us.  Neither of us could think of what to do while it was happening, no one thought to honk the horn.. We just sat there shouting, "No! No, no no! What are you doing?!?!?" So naturally, they hit us.  But just barely, so no harm was done. Just super funny how we had no emergency reaction skills.

2. That time at Texas Roadhouse. The waiter. Need I say more? :)

3. Us pulling a stakeout in your car.  Waiting in front of you-know-who's house while you-know-who and she-who-must-not-be-named were inside.  Laying back in our seats so as not to be seen. Silently rolling the car down the hill.  Imagining what could be happening inside.  Bahahahaha.  Oh man.  Best. Night. Ever.

just two white kids hanging out

4. Halloween party at your house on base.  Playing apples to apples and throwing that build-a-bear into the spider web decoration that was hanging on the wall because it looked like a portal to HalloweenTown.

5. Countless impromptu sleepovers and trips to Walmart.  You chasing Emily around with the fake snake toy, laughing uncontrollably, Em screaming and running around the store.

Basically, there are too many to name.  But, here are some memories we have yet to have, but need to have:

1. Roadtrip! -just picture it. I get excited just imaging it. Seriously, this needs to happen.
2. Pictures! - we need to take more pictures when we hang out! I was looking on FB and all of our pics are              super old!
3. Cruise! Lol, when we're rich one day. But wouldn't that be so great?
4. Skype! - ASAP! I haven't talked to you in so long!

Anyways, this post is kind of turning into one of Gabby's phone messages.  Really long and random, but still heartfelt.

I miss you girl!!! Hope your birthday is as amazing as you are! Wish I was there to celebrate!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! :)