Ode To The Outlaw

Today I’m excited to feature, on her birthday, my amazing friend and sister-in-law, Kathy. She is fearless, compassionate, and has made me laugh more and louder than anyone I know. She might also be my personal savior.

We first met about 30 years ago when she bravely flew across the country to stay with me before joining the family at a business convention. My brother, sweet soul that he is, would have unequivocally sung my praises.  She was an easy, perfect guest, and when my cat thought it would be fun to jump onto her back from the loft, she took it in stride. She also found my offhand, NSFW comments to my brother hilarious. We were off to a great start.

Despite the miles between us, we grew close. We married within months of each other, took vacations together, even gave birth within 6 weeks of each other. There were times we were wrapped up in our own little worlds, or overly sensitive, or separated by an ocean, but the friendship always held. Our reunions were epic (which is where the family’s tendency to separate us at functions began).

Over the years I’ve watched in awe as she raised two amazing kids while being a nurse, an athlete, and a skilled craftsperson. It just never seems to occur to her that she can’t do something. Even more impressive, though, is her unparalleled knack for identifying and thoughtfully assisting those around her in need. It truly borders on sainthood.

When my life imploded several years ago, Kathy stepped up in a way few people have. She didn’t offer sympathy or polite invitations to “let me know if you need anything”; she told me when she’d be arriving and what she’d be doing. She listened and offered opinions but never unsolicited advice. And through it all we have shared so much laughter. We seem to have an undeclared contest to see who can be most outrageously provocative, which has resulted, on both sides, in more than one aspirated beverage and narrowly averted car accident (and which is responsible for our continued separation at family functions and her designation as “out-law”).

Tonight we will celebrate her. And tomorrow, and every day, she will remain at the top of my gratitude list.