In a dark brown hutch, tucked away behind glass doors in my dining room sits a small music box. A little girl, smiling and with pigtails sits on a bench, nestled in a garden, and when the box is wound, it sings, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you keep my happy when skies are gray...." Jennifer Manfredi Lewis gave me this music box...I believe in 7th grade...but honestly can't pinpoint the exact birthday celebration she chose this as my perfect birthday gift. Why? Well, probably because she was with me for all of my birthdays, from the 1st grade on, and they all blend together, in the midst of bangs, braces, slumber parties and field hockey games, in a beautiful memory. Our birthdays never went by without some level of pomp and circumstance, from surprise parties, to slumber parties, from car decorating extravaganza's to boy/girl parties with awkward slow dances.
I play this music box more often than I'd like to admit in my adulthood, as the ironic thought of the gray skies we pictured when we would sing this song in middle school, often stand in stark contrast to the true gray skies that life can bring in the midst of the inevitable storms that are bound to roll in as life comes at us. The pure thought of our childhood vibrancy brings light to me, as I think of what our trials and tribulations were as kids.
The voice inside of my head needed to write to Jennifer today, as tomorrow she turns 34 (shhhssh). I have a card for her that Jack and I picked out, which sits on my kitchen counter and will get to her a week late, my usual belatedness, of which she is WELL aware. It has Cinderella on the front and provides the wish for her that I could send her a Fairy Godmother for the day to take care of her and let her relax. Oh, how I wish I could....and how she wishes I could!
Jen was my first friend in Kennett Square at Mary D. Lang Elementary School. I went up to her on the merry-go-round, introduced myself and asked her if she would be my friend. She said yes. Go figure. But 27 years later, she is still living up to her word, in more ways than her 7 year old little self realized she was getting herself into. It's not too late to back out Jen, I still wouldn't blame you :)
She still calls and texts at just the right time, she still knows exactly what to say to make me feel the sunshine when I need it the most, and she does all of this from a distance, while mothering three beautiful children and keeping it all together, one day at a time.
Jen and I loved the movie "Stand By Me," and at the end of the movie, there is a quote that we used to say to each other..."I never had friends later like I did when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?" Well, we do, and she is a blessing to me, always has been and always will be. So, here's a toast to my forever friend, my Jennifer...thank you for being you, for being there and for being my sunshine. When you wake up tomorrow, your car will not be decorated (sorry), but I will be with you in your heart, and Matthew, Ella and Ben, will need breakfast :) Happy Birthday my dear Jennifer...you couldn't glow any brighter than you do today. And you couldn't be any more loved by the people you hold close to your heart. I love you and am thankful for the gift of your forever friendship.
