It happened about 13 years ago. A chance encounter at an event committee meeting in college, then a chance encounter at a sub-committee meeting. My life was forever changed by these chance encounters. The beauty, radiant love for life, care and compassion for others, faith, sassiness, honesty, and yes, even humor, drew me in more every day. I don’t think I was able to fully grasp what I was getting myself into, but I think I understood that my life would be forever better because this amazing birthday girl – er – woman/mother/daughter/bff. It seems crazy to think that I have only experienced life with Summer for 13 years!
Through our years together, I have watched Summer bloom in her gifts. I have seen her discover talents and passions that were tucked away, just waiting to be released, and watch them flourish beyond what our finite minds could have expected. I have experienced tragedy with her, watched her be vulnerable and honest in the midst of it, all while resolving to learn, grow and experience the richness of life in a whole new way. The most exciting thing I have observed over the years is how she has thrived in her role as Mommy/Mama to our kids!
I can go on, but as we celebrate Summer’s birthday, I wanted to get other people involved in celebrating her. The stories and comments range from people who have known her since childhood, to new friends, to college and grad-school friends. If you have something to share, please contact me via some sort of media (comment, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, pay phone, carrier pigeon, pony express, smoke signals, etc)
Thank you to those who graciously submitted! I also want to thank the blogosphere for enriching Summer’s life with your words and lives!
Thirty-four years ago, the world got increasingly better. Fourteen years ago my own life was changed by a petite and powerful young woman. And lest this begin to sound like we are married, and not just good friends and former roommates, I will just keep this metaphor going. Our friendship started like any good love story: we look back and though it wasn’t predictable and nothing about it is necessarily mind-blowing or outrageous, we just knew. That is the mark of a good friendship; you look back and have NO clue what you talked or teased about, laughed over, synchronistically rolled your eyes about when (hopefully) no one else was looking.
It just….was. And thank God.
Every time Summer comes to mind, this is often what I do: reflect upon who she is and how she has added something to my life. She likely doesn’t know it, or is WAY too modest to admit, but she changes people with whom she comes into contact. She plants little seeds that either burst into blooms instantaneously or, perhaps, they sit and wait for years until they finally catch the sunlight at just the right time and then…BOOM! A piece of Summer (her laugh, her sarcasm, her nonjudgmental acceptance) or a word of advice or a time she helped someone in need comes to the surface. And you recognize you are different just because of her.
The absolute easiest memory for me to recall is the day Summer dropped everything to be by my side and drive me far away to see my brother when our family was going through a rough time. We didn’t even find him that day – before cell phones and all. 90% of people would not have gone the extra mile and would have been even minimally upset at the “wasted time” or the unfortunate outcome. Not Summer. And this is what Summer is built of: loyalty, goodness, humility, acceptance, understanding, love-in-action.
Summer, I love you. I’m glad our friendship made like a boomerang and came back to us after some years of flight. You mean the world to me and if I could bottle up every ounce of happiness and deliver it to your front door, I would do it. You deserve all of it. Happy Birthday, friend!
What I appreciate about Summer – her encouraging spirit, her sense of humor, her friendship and loyalty, her love for her family, her courage and bravery to seek out new life in the wake of her mom’s death, the vision she casts for her children and her willingness to make sacrifices for them in order to better them, her genuine kindness towards others. I wish I could be more poetic as Summer is on her blog…she is so gifted in writing and expressing her thoughts.
Oh so many memories…here are a couple that stick out…
We went wave running a lot at Indian Lake – on one occasion we thought we were cool and were swerving the wave runner around and we tipped over. We tried and tried but couldn’t get it tipped back over. The gasoline was emptying out around us in the water and we were far from shore. We panicked for a while but were thankful when a nice family that was out boating stopped to help us. We climbed aboard their boat and they towed the wave runner back to Summer’s boat.
In 8th grade, we (and 2 other friends) wanted to find out what the best pizza in town was. We came up with a bunch of categories and ordered pizza from EVERY pizza place in town that would deliver. Believe it or not most of our get-togethers involved lots of junk food (Chad Note: Summer is a health food fiend…now) – a trip to Rite Aid before overnights where we stocked up on chocolate and sugar! And many trips downtown for Marie’s candy and Don’s hamburger shop.
Amazing things that make Summer such a good friend – she’s so easy to talk to, asks lots of questions and can get anything out of anybody, thoughtful, fun.
Summer, is the type of girl who makes me re-evaluate myself and how I view life. I doubt she knows she does this to me, but she has such an amazing view on life that it really is contagious to love life like she does! To her, life is SO precious and it is meant to be enjoyed and not taken for granted (or too seriously!). I need reminders of this (often!) so I am thankful and grateful to have Summer in my life. One day with her, and my outlook on life has changed. She a treasure and one-of-a-kind!!
Funny story: There was a time her and I were mistaken for twins sisters! and when we said NO, the guy asked us if we were at least sisters! Ha! That may not seem funny to others, but we were rolling with laughter that night!
Summer is the kind of person you want to be around because she makes you want to be a better person. She sees the beauty around her and the beauty in life. I admire how much she appreciates and cherishes the people in her life. She is an amazing mother, that is obvious by looking at the beautiful photographs she takes of her children and all the wonderful things she does with them. It is inspiring. Summer brings out the best in people and that’s the kind of friend you want to have!
Summer, you are such a dear friend, a once in a lifetime kind of friend, and there is so much I admire and appreciate about you that there is no way I can even begin to put it all into words. What I can say is that you have taught me so much about living life to the fullest, ceasing each moment and not missing the blessings that come our way each and every day. You have helped me to realize that it’s not the big moments in life that we live for, as wonderful as they are, but it’s in those every day, ordinary moments where memories are made and life is truly lived. Summer, you have helped me to see the importance of slowing down, as much as that’s possible with my life J. You have also helped me see more clearly the choice I have in focusing on and embracing what’s really important. Thank you for your endless support and encouragement, but most of all, thank you for being you!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY…I LOVE YOU!!
Happy Birthday, Summer! Enjoy your special day! I love you!
It seems strange to comment on my own blog. I hardly know what to say. . . it's a rarity to say I'm speechless. . . but I am.
I had a blog scheduled for today. . . this wasn't it. (check back tomorrow) I was shocked to find this.
My heart is over-whelmed. Thank you, Chad, for hacking my blog and giving me this special gift. And for those of you that contributed to this gift. . . thank you. I am humbled and touched beyond words. . .
More later. . .
You're hubby is pretty special! Happy Birthday Summer! Enjoy this day to the fullest! What an amazing way to start you're day by reading this.
Marie
LOVE this! Happy Birthday Summer!!!! Enjoy your day. Chad – you get a zillion husband points today; what a sweet thing to do.
What a wonderful, love filled birthday present! May you have the happiest and fun filled day as you possibly can, Summer! : )
What an amazing husband you have, Summer! And YOU are amazing as well. Hope you have the best birthday ever!
Wishing you a wonderful birthday and a happy year, Summer!
Summer I hope your day and this year are as wonderful as you! You changed my life by letting me love your kids while my nephew is in TX. And thank you for asking thought provoking ? Hen I would stop in with Frosties. You are a wonderful mom, a wonderful woman. May zgod bless you! And glad your hubby did this!
Love you, Jackie
Summer I hope your day and this year are as wonderful as you! You changed my life by letting me love your kids while my nephew is in TX. And thank you for asking thought provoking ? Hen I would stop in with Frosties. You are a wonderful mom, a wonderful woman. May zgod bless you! And glad your hubby did this!
Love you, Jackie
I'm a day behind, however I believe in birthday's stretching out for more then the day 🙂
Love that Chad hijacked the blog, that's just awesome!!
Hope that this year continues to bring lots of little moments of great joy!!! Hope that you have a wonderful, blessed year!!!
This was amazing to read. It sounds like you have so much love in your life and it is filled with truly wonderful people!
I know late but hope you had a wonderful birthday! !