Dear Em,

You’re birthday was really a great day, thanks. Memories of you seem to constantly be flowing through my head, it seems I can’t look anywhere without being reminded of you. I keep trying to develop shortcuts through the city, and am constantly reminded of the many thorn infested ones the four of us embarked upon.. I stand by them making the trip way more fun. How awesome were the days we spent rolling in fits of laughter in one of the most beautiful spots in the world? We are such lucky people to have experienced that, and for it to have made us all so close… our ideas and sense of humor. Much of who I am was developed in those days of love, humiliation, and life lessons. Even more in the talks we used to have. Remember that night in Voltera when we just talked all night? Not just got drank like everyone else, but had actual conversations. You told me how lucky you felt to be in Europe, and how much you appreciated it. You opened my eyes to its… well magnificence. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for you, and I am just on top of the world right now. Not a day goes by, not an hour, not a moment that I don’t think of you. This is especially true here in Prague.
Remember ‘Big, beautiful, talented women who are really men?’ Go Ricky! Remember when you fell asleep on the phone, and continued to talk to me in your sleep? Remember Debbie’s house when in my sleep I sat straight up and yelled ‘TURKEY!’ Remember how you talked me out of supporting the death penalty, what was I thinking? Remember when you yelled ‘BAM!’ at the passing cars on the hightway? Remember our music video’s and ‘Real World: Mendham edition?’ Remember when Gau farted and the deer ran away? Remember Margaret Cho, and wondering the streets of Manhattan alone at night? Remember when my mom and Marybeth chased us around the house snapping our bras so you’d go play the piano? Remember the lake of pooh; Your mom curving the shoe into your room while you were checking under the bed for rats; Your gum loosing its flavor. The small ass tent at Sly Park, and the fan fiction we read inside of it. The walk to Kristen’s house and the grilled cheese, followed by us immediately passing out; Fairy houses; Butty; Trampoline routines, 5ive vs. Hootie; Your maroon bag that you’d loose everywhere, also I still don’t know how someone could forget their shoes at another persons house, but I can recall several occasions of you doing just that. Run Eliza run. ‘Conversation with the hickory sti- SWITCH!’ ‘Are you hungry? Yeah. Eat um up.’ ‘Out the door with a wet noodle,’ and ‘up your nose with a rubber hose.’ Camp Branada, and the 3 fishermen. I’m so wicked sorry. I can here you. Ahee Ahee… Nightgowns; piggy in the blanket at slumber parties. The Billy Joel song I always made you play for me. The frozen gerbils; the prism science fair project; The band you were going to start with Suzy. Chocolate covered peanut butter with Amy. Memphrimagog; Nevada; Clenched cheeks; Rice and pasta; wagon wheels with American cheese. Sticking candy circles on the people who fell a sleep’s faces (aka me). Coming over covered in chocolate from J Emanuels; Little Nemo’s Adventures in Slumberland, Madonna Immaculate. My snow pants wedgie and ‘bag of potato chips’ coat. Skipping out on our first ski lesson and barreling down the hills. Falling asleep whenever it was cold. I could really go on ‘4 eva,’ I’m just glad you’re always with me. Thank you for listening to my endless rants well into the night, thanks for the good days, and awkward moments I know are from you, thanks for working me through my harder times. You have helped me become who I am throughout our lives, and always challenged my shortcomings so I could be the best version of myself. No one in this life or the next will what you are to me.
I love you,
Lauren