Happy Birthday, Jessica!

One of my oldest and bestest friends has joined the ranks of those of us in the new "40 and over" demographic. I have known Jessica since grade school — fourth grade, in fact — and my family will tell you that among their fondest memories of her is the image of us all lined up in front of our living room window as she and her family came to pick me up for a skating party driving their eight-door limousine. Apparently, the story is, her dad bought is so their five kids would quit fighting about who would get to sit next to a window (!). Gotta love a parent with a sense of humor.

Jessica is one of the smartest people I know. She was our high school valedictorian and made it through college with one B. Only one. I was impressed. High school fun times include, but are not limited to:

• Watching Jeremiah (her brother) dancing to REM in ballet slippers.
• Her speeding ticket as she drove over to study with me (a long-kept secret from her mother).
• Taking her brother, my brother, and his friend to the drive-in, sneaking Andy and Pat in under the lawn chairs (because we didn't have enough money to pay for all of us) but forgetting to get the money until we were already in line at the drive-in, thus seeing Pat's hand emerging from the pile of lawn chairs, dollar bills in hand (I think maybe you had to be there ...).
• "An anonymous percolator and an REM fan."
• An evening spent in the company of ... well, some friends, shall we say, listening to Black Flag.
• "Hessica" (and for the life of me I cannot remember the origin of this ...)
• Sharing tales of our respective fast food careers.
• That after-prom party, involving poetry and a wheelchair. It defies explanation, trust me.

And then there are the college memories, many involving live music at the Blue Note — Steve, Bob & Rich, Pianosaurus, The Elvis Brothers, Nick Lowe, Alex Chilton .... too many strange roommates — hers and mine — and the sudden realization that her football game cadet partner (who appeared, at first, to be personality-free) was, in fact, the roommate of my boyfriend; he was suddenly very entertaining. I'm not sure I even want to know what kinds of secrets those two shared.

She was the first person to congratulate me on my first pregnancy ... the first person to tell me I looked big (I believe the word she used was "huge"). She drove three hours to attend my baby shower, attended a going-away party when we moved to Germany, and served as Godmother for my youngest daughter.

These days even our daughters are friends. They are a year or two apart, and they (Maddie and Rachel) get along great. We clearly do not see one another often enough.

A frienship that goes back 30 years — amazing. She is among my favorite people. There are others — you know who you are (Tammy, Helen, JoAnn among others), and I can't believe I haven't written more about them. Maybe I'm being cautious? Don't want to invade others' privacy?

To heck with that; more tributes to come.

Happy Birthday, Jessica. I wish you many more.