Toni the Tiger Has a Birthday

This is my amazing, wonderful, beautiful friend Toni:


Toni and I have known each other for 15 years. We were college roommates and sorority sisters and we are dear friends. We've traveled many places together - even Egypt:


Two years ago, Toni pronounced that she would only turn 40 in the Caribbean and I then pronounced that, dammit, I would be there with her because I wanted her to be surrounded by friends on that big day.

Yesterday, Toni turned 40 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and I wasn't with her. I missed her wedding almost three years ago when J-man was born. But she was there at the hospital, wearing her beautiful Aunt Toni smile:


I hate like hell that I wasn't with her yesterday. I wanted to remind her, all day, that she's the most beautiful 40-year-old woman I know. Inside and out, she's amazing, and that no matter her age, she'll always be beautiful and amazing. Because she is. Simple as that. Even though she's in Mexico right now with her wonderful husband who is saying those same things to her, I wanted her to hear it from a friend, another woman.

Me.



I know that barring any craziness in her life, we'll all be in Hawai'i (crossing fingers) celebrating my and the Ty-man's 40th birthdays in two years.

And I know that in 10 years, we'll all be in Egypt, mine and Toni's favorite place among all our travels, to celebrate Toni's 50th birthday.

Because I promised. And dammit, I'm not missing another one.

Happy birthday, Toni! I love you, miss you, and hope this birthday was special!