Crackers and JAM!
Today is my best friend Juli’s birthday. This picture was taken by Rob during our recent trip out to Colorado to visit her and her husband Chad.
I adore Juli. We met in the 7th grade, we were 12 and she had just moved to my town. I was a brat and she was the new girl. She tells this very funny story about how we first met. Apparently she was working the “Buy a Carnation for Valentine’s Day” table. We had these fundraisers for just about any holiday. You could purchase a carnation for your friends and it was sent to them during homeroom. The number of carnations you carried was a badge of popularity. I hated those days. I walked up to Juli wearing a red and white striped sweater and Sassoon Jeans (this was 1988 after all) with zippers and a bow at the heel. I fully remember these articles of clothing however, I do not remember wearing them on this particular occasion. This is all Juli’s memory. Then and there she decided she would be my friend.
In the 8th grade I made her sign a contract. I wish we still had the contract. It’s in a landfill somewhere, Juli’s mom threw it out with her year books (Juli’s mom is a cuckoo. We love her, but man is she the source of some funny stories.) The contract centered around my 13-year old insecurity. Worried that I would someday not be cool enough for her and she would leave me for another. She never did, and neither did I. We’re still best friends to this day. I talk to her about 80 times a week and I can’t wait for us to live near each other again. She was my matron of honor as I was hers. She will help me raise my kids and teach them aspects of life that I will never be able to grasp, let alone teach. We will be old ladies together. I can’t wait. She is the absolute best.
Happy Birthday Jam!