Ode to my Friends!
I am so thankful for all of my wonderful friends…so this is a special warm fuzzy shout out to all my friends who mean so much to me!
*Henry Steven Keatts – The Best Brother Ever! It blows my mind how much you love me. You have always protected me. Even though you are really the only person I have ever felt rage towards, you have truly become a best friend to me. Thinking back on our childhood cracks me up because of how we loved to hate each other. But I am so thankful that it all changed when I got to high school and we became really close. I wish that one day we could live in the same place again. I admire your love for our youth and making a difference in their lives. I am so proud that you are an elementary school teacher. I LOVE YOU!
*Ryanne Brown – You were my first closest friend. I will always treasure that. I don’t think I really knew what a friend was until I met you. I cherish the friendship that we had growing up. I loved how close our families were, and your parents were really second parents to me. I hope that we can continue to be friends. I would pay big money to spend a couple of days with you catching up!
*Bryan Eidal – You were my first close guy friend. I have lost touch with you, but you were one of my best friends in high school. I can’t imagine what high school would have been like without you. Thanks for watching out for me, and caring for me, and being interested in me and my feelings. And for helping me be a kick butt water polo player!
*Michele Rahn – I have lost touch with you, but am distraught about it. I want to get back in touch and be great friends with you again. I think of you so much. You always made me laugh! I have treasured memories with you, and do not want our friendship to end. You are always on my heart and I think of you and pray for you often.
*Monica “Moses” - You are a fashionista! But you are so much more than that. We have shared so many experiences. Deep conversations, St. Patrick’s Days, not to mention dares. You are an adventurer and I love that about you. You inspire me to live life to the fullest!
*Janet Mitchell – My sweet cousin! I have always looked up to you. I admire you so much. When I was little I wanted to be just like you. You have such a magnetic personality and I am drawn to that. Thanks for loving me so much and showing me an amazing example of a sacrificing mom! You are one person that my heart aches that we don’t spend more time together.
*Jennifer (Ratzlaff) Kirtland – You are the only friend that I have never argued with. We were two peas in a pod. I could spend days and days with you and never get tired of being around you. We were connected at the hip all throughout high school, and when I think back to high school, I can’t really think of a memory without you in it. I love everything about you, and we had so much in common. I know we will always keep in touch for the rest of our lives.
*Melany Bubenik (soon to be Seidel) – You are a treasured friend. You know so much about my heart, and I feel like I know about yours. We have the best conversations and have been through so much together. You were my first spiritual side kick. I felt like we experienced God together. I could talk with you for hours and hours. I’m so excited for your upcoming wedding!
*Kat Davis – You are such a dear friend. You make me happy. I love that you will be silly to just brighten my day or make me laugh. I love how our friendship is low maintenance. Even if a long amount of time has passed since the last time we have talked or seen each other, we can just pick up where we left off. I feel so comfortable with you and trust our friendship so much. I know that whatever I tell you will be held in confidence, and that means the world to me. I value your opinion so much. Whenever I’m around you, I feel completely loved…and that’s such a wonderful feeling.
*Elizabeth Jackson – I don’t know if I’ve ever connected with someone else so quickly. I’ve definitely never trusted someone so quickly. I instantly felt comfortable with you. You have such a sweet spirit that is so attractive. I just want to be around you because of it! You are so REAL, and that is so inspiring. I wish I could be more real with people. I also love that you are such a passionate person. When there is something that is important to you, you are behind it 110%. And you are not afraid to express your passions with others. I miss having you in Nashville!
*Tonia East – I don’t even know the words to describe my dear friend Tonia. You are a kindred spirit. I feel like my soul is attracted to your soul. We have a connection that I can not describe. We can be silly together, and have dance parties, but we can also be very serious. You have walked with me through the toughest time in my life. I will always be grateful to you for that. You have definitely seen all of me, and a lot of my friends haven’t. I look to you for wisdom and guidance and trust it. Your opinion has always meant so much to me. I know that we will always be close and our families will be close. You are family to me!
*JoAnna The Glamorous – My traveling partner! I love roaming this country with you! And hopefully one day we will go international! Beyond that, you are an AMAZING WOMAN. I look up to you so much. I feel like we relate on so many levels. Thank you for stretching me…and asking me tough questions…and loving me through it. I love how you can be silly and serious. There’s no one else that I just love to gab with about pop culture…and life. You are the true definition of a friend. I know you would sacrifice anything for me if I needed it. That overwhelms me…and makes me feel loved.
*MaryBeth Stephens – My Sweet B! My partner in crime! I always know I’m up for a good adventure when I’m with you, because that’s what we do…find adventures! My heart feels at home when I am with you or talking to you. Just the thought of you brings the biggest smile to my face. You bring me such joy and happiness. You have the most infectuous laugh. You are everything that is beautiful and good in this world. I love your heart…because it is so caring and loving. I love story time with B…because you always have stories! Although it may never happen, I wish for us to be in the same place. I wish for us to grow old together. It breaks my heart not being able to see you on a consistent basis. You are the sister I never had and my best girlfriend.
*Stephen Kenneth Strout – The love of my life and my Sugarbear! No one loves me like you. I never imagined a love like ours could exist. My heart belongs to you and you only. I never imagined I could feel empty when I am not around you, but it feels like I can’t breathe fully when you are not around. Even when I try to see how far I can push you on certain things, you love me even more and it is incredible. You are so patient with me. All of my troubles dissolve in your affection! I love you forever and this is only the beginning!
And to all of the other people that have held special places in my life…thank you! You have made me who I am. Kimberly McCollough, Melissa Baird, Lisa Leetch, Michelle Sproat, Nikki Vincenti, Holly Olson, Brooke Azares, Lindsey Buckman, Erin Paulsen, Karin Stinton, Anna Smith, Tanya Jackson, Jeff Gustin, Geof Barkley, Kim Nehs, Heather Bolin, Aubrey Dickerson, Chris Poisat, Tony & Sherry Libby, Leslie Wormer…okay this is getting too hard. Don’t hate me if I have missed you and you are special to me. It’s hard to look back over the course of 27 years and come up with all of the special people. But man…I have just realized how blessed I am!
*Henry Steven Keatts – The Best Brother Ever! It blows my mind how much you love me. You have always protected me. Even though you are really the only person I have ever felt rage towards, you have truly become a best friend to me. Thinking back on our childhood cracks me up because of how we loved to hate each other. But I am so thankful that it all changed when I got to high school and we became really close. I wish that one day we could live in the same place again. I admire your love for our youth and making a difference in their lives. I am so proud that you are an elementary school teacher. I LOVE YOU!
*Ryanne Brown – You were my first closest friend. I will always treasure that. I don’t think I really knew what a friend was until I met you. I cherish the friendship that we had growing up. I loved how close our families were, and your parents were really second parents to me. I hope that we can continue to be friends. I would pay big money to spend a couple of days with you catching up!
*Bryan Eidal – You were my first close guy friend. I have lost touch with you, but you were one of my best friends in high school. I can’t imagine what high school would have been like without you. Thanks for watching out for me, and caring for me, and being interested in me and my feelings. And for helping me be a kick butt water polo player!
*Michele Rahn – I have lost touch with you, but am distraught about it. I want to get back in touch and be great friends with you again. I think of you so much. You always made me laugh! I have treasured memories with you, and do not want our friendship to end. You are always on my heart and I think of you and pray for you often.
*Monica “Moses” - You are a fashionista! But you are so much more than that. We have shared so many experiences. Deep conversations, St. Patrick’s Days, not to mention dares. You are an adventurer and I love that about you. You inspire me to live life to the fullest!
*Janet Mitchell – My sweet cousin! I have always looked up to you. I admire you so much. When I was little I wanted to be just like you. You have such a magnetic personality and I am drawn to that. Thanks for loving me so much and showing me an amazing example of a sacrificing mom! You are one person that my heart aches that we don’t spend more time together.
*Jennifer (Ratzlaff) Kirtland – You are the only friend that I have never argued with. We were two peas in a pod. I could spend days and days with you and never get tired of being around you. We were connected at the hip all throughout high school, and when I think back to high school, I can’t really think of a memory without you in it. I love everything about you, and we had so much in common. I know we will always keep in touch for the rest of our lives.
*Melany Bubenik (soon to be Seidel) – You are a treasured friend. You know so much about my heart, and I feel like I know about yours. We have the best conversations and have been through so much together. You were my first spiritual side kick. I felt like we experienced God together. I could talk with you for hours and hours. I’m so excited for your upcoming wedding!
*Kat Davis – You are such a dear friend. You make me happy. I love that you will be silly to just brighten my day or make me laugh. I love how our friendship is low maintenance. Even if a long amount of time has passed since the last time we have talked or seen each other, we can just pick up where we left off. I feel so comfortable with you and trust our friendship so much. I know that whatever I tell you will be held in confidence, and that means the world to me. I value your opinion so much. Whenever I’m around you, I feel completely loved…and that’s such a wonderful feeling.
*Elizabeth Jackson – I don’t know if I’ve ever connected with someone else so quickly. I’ve definitely never trusted someone so quickly. I instantly felt comfortable with you. You have such a sweet spirit that is so attractive. I just want to be around you because of it! You are so REAL, and that is so inspiring. I wish I could be more real with people. I also love that you are such a passionate person. When there is something that is important to you, you are behind it 110%. And you are not afraid to express your passions with others. I miss having you in Nashville!
*Tonia East – I don’t even know the words to describe my dear friend Tonia. You are a kindred spirit. I feel like my soul is attracted to your soul. We have a connection that I can not describe. We can be silly together, and have dance parties, but we can also be very serious. You have walked with me through the toughest time in my life. I will always be grateful to you for that. You have definitely seen all of me, and a lot of my friends haven’t. I look to you for wisdom and guidance and trust it. Your opinion has always meant so much to me. I know that we will always be close and our families will be close. You are family to me!
*JoAnna The Glamorous – My traveling partner! I love roaming this country with you! And hopefully one day we will go international! Beyond that, you are an AMAZING WOMAN. I look up to you so much. I feel like we relate on so many levels. Thank you for stretching me…and asking me tough questions…and loving me through it. I love how you can be silly and serious. There’s no one else that I just love to gab with about pop culture…and life. You are the true definition of a friend. I know you would sacrifice anything for me if I needed it. That overwhelms me…and makes me feel loved.
*MaryBeth Stephens – My Sweet B! My partner in crime! I always know I’m up for a good adventure when I’m with you, because that’s what we do…find adventures! My heart feels at home when I am with you or talking to you. Just the thought of you brings the biggest smile to my face. You bring me such joy and happiness. You have the most infectuous laugh. You are everything that is beautiful and good in this world. I love your heart…because it is so caring and loving. I love story time with B…because you always have stories! Although it may never happen, I wish for us to be in the same place. I wish for us to grow old together. It breaks my heart not being able to see you on a consistent basis. You are the sister I never had and my best girlfriend.
*Stephen Kenneth Strout – The love of my life and my Sugarbear! No one loves me like you. I never imagined a love like ours could exist. My heart belongs to you and you only. I never imagined I could feel empty when I am not around you, but it feels like I can’t breathe fully when you are not around. Even when I try to see how far I can push you on certain things, you love me even more and it is incredible. You are so patient with me. All of my troubles dissolve in your affection! I love you forever and this is only the beginning!
And to all of the other people that have held special places in my life…thank you! You have made me who I am. Kimberly McCollough, Melissa Baird, Lisa Leetch, Michelle Sproat, Nikki Vincenti, Holly Olson, Brooke Azares, Lindsey Buckman, Erin Paulsen, Karin Stinton, Anna Smith, Tanya Jackson, Jeff Gustin, Geof Barkley, Kim Nehs, Heather Bolin, Aubrey Dickerson, Chris Poisat, Tony & Sherry Libby, Leslie Wormer…okay this is getting too hard. Don’t hate me if I have missed you and you are special to me. It’s hard to look back over the course of 27 years and come up with all of the special people. But man…I have just realized how blessed I am!
posted by AJ Fabulous @ 6/17/2005 03:44:00 PM
2 Comments:
At Monday, June 20, 2005 7:36:00 AM,
mommy zabs said…
wow aj,
that is so sweet for you to take the time and tell your friends how you feel about them. They were so specific, ungeneric. Thanks so much for your kind words to me. I was attracted to your spirit from the first moment I knew you. Your such a treasure in Nashville. You are sweet, genuine, caring, intense, passionate, driven, perceptive, sharp, a listener, you recognize true value. your ability to love it so amazing. And I love that i can always chat about the bachelor with you :) You rock.
i love you!
At Monday, June 20, 2005 12:59:00 PM,
GJ said…
Awwwww shucks. Thanks for the nice words and for being my friend. I'm SO HAPPY that you will be with me on the big day..(in thirteen days). You are a HUGE friend to me and I love you more than free/easy flowers. AND THAT IS A LOT. I wouldn't want to travel the world with anyone else....(seriously...not anyone.....)
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