For Kathryn.

I hope she will forgive me for the belated birthday dedication, but this blog post is dedicated to my dear friend Kathryn who celebrated her 23rd birthday yesterday.

The most exciting thing about Kathryn's birthday this year is that she was celebrating it back home in Canada! It was fantastic having one of my best university friends home again. In September, Kathryn made the brave journey to Scotland to complete her masters at the University of St. Andrews. After a tearful goodbye on her last evening in Canada, Kathryn and I have been able to keep in touch via Skype on a weekly basis. Those Skype dates once a week are one of the things I look most forward to after a busy day at school.

Last week, Kathyrn arrived home again! Tuesday evening we sat on my couch and talked for hours and enjoyed each others company without a computer screen, thousands of miles, and a four hour time difference between us. On Wednesday Kathryn, the boys, and I went to Snooty Fox for delicious food and a beer or two.

On Friday the Holy Cross crew went to the Cellar for more food and more beers. Our week with Kathryn ended yesterday on her 23rd birthday with a dessert potluck and a surprise party.

What Kathryn thought was going to be a small gathering with cookies and treats turned into a surprise party with Harry Potter ice cream cake and some of Kathryn's closest and dearest friends. I have NEVER successfully planned a surprise party. Kathryn assures me she had no idea, and from the look on her face when her friends appeared from around the corner, I'm pretty certain she was shocked. Success!

So, in honour of my great friend Kathryn, here are some of the reasons she is such a fantastic and dear friend:

~ She has to be one of the bravest people I know. She's always willing to try new things, put herself out there, and experience as much as she can in her youth. She is a role model to me and to many other people in her community.

~ She'll put up with your cheesy movie collection, as long as you agree to watch kick ass action movies in return.

~ She drives a motorcycle, shaved her head for cancer patients, and has a black belt. I feel safe around her :)

~ She thinks of you when she's away in Italy and brings you home a thoughtful gift.

~ When you are in your most vulnerable and insecure state, she opens her heart and makes you feel at home. Thanks Kathryn, for being my first university friend. I couldn't have gotten through those first few difficult months at STU without you.

~ She knits. Enough said.

~ Her nerdiness warms my heart (love you). She knows how to be herself and that's something to admire.

~ She gives the best hugs in the world.

Buda, it has been fantastic having you home again. I am so blessed and fortunate to have a friend as generous, brave, kind hearted, and beautiful (inside and out) as you. You have helped shape who I am today, and if nothing else, I'm glad I came to university because I got to meet and become the greatest of friends with you. 


Love, Pest.