ingrid

 

 

In case you were not aware,  February 21st, 2009 is Anne’s 26th birthday.  Now Anne is off adventuring in SE Asia, having a big old wandery time.  She wasn’t much for getting presents back when she actually HAD a home, and now that she is on the road it is all but impossible to give her anything, so knowing that she has no home address to get a card, but will surely eventually stumble here, I give you 26 things I love about Anne.

1.  She is very artsy in surprising ways.  She has a great eye for colors and patterns and can do amazing things with chunks of paper.  She also sews proficiently and will enthusiastically cut stuff up and make things that people need, like leiderhosen.

2.  She is honest about what she knows and does not know.  She’s smart, but she doesn’t need to constantly prove it by pretending to understand concepts in order to impress people.  She’ll say, “what is that?” or “I don’t think I’ve heard of that”.  She doesn’t pretend to like people or ideas that don’t appeal to her in order to impress others.

3.  She has an old fashioned sense of the decency of manners.  She is impeccable about being on time.  When she is entertaining, she gives time and attention to everyone around her.  If a group is lame or someone is having a hard time socially, she will bring that person out.

4.  She is incredibly independent and does not need anyone to prop her up, thank you very much!  If she chooses to be in a relationship, it is because she really likes that person, not because she is afraid to be alone.

5.  She thinks dogs are kind of gross and isn’t afraid to say so.

6.  She likes to skate!  She also likes to bike!  She always wears her protective equipment because she also likes her bones and skull.

7.  She is one of the only people I know who actually exercises regularly and (seems to) like it.

8.  She is quick to answer a call for help.  If I didn’t know what to do, or felt overwhelmed and miserable, I would call Anne.  Often she would jump on her bike and come right over.

9.  She has long, elegant fingers.

10.  She is very lithe and graceful but has the heaviest legs someone has ever thrown across my lap.  She is about 2% body fat and the rest is just heavy, heavy muscle.

11.  She will read books that are recommended to her.

12.  She is funny as freakin’ heck!  OMG!  SO funny!  Her e-mails are worth saving.  Her writing is full of folksy storytelling.

13.  She is a dork.  She is nerdy, nerdy, nerdy about linguistics.  I like to hear her say, “fricative!” with such enthusiasm.

14.  She can keep a secret.

15.  She doesn’t let everyone in.  She doesn’t share the workings of her inner mind with everyone.  It is a special thing to be her friend.  

16.  She is a hard-worker.  She goes after the things that she wants.  If she were a stock, it would be wise to invest everything in her.  You will not lose by believing in Anne.

17.  She values family even while being aware of their short-comings.  She likes to feel connected to people and will really give them her time.

18.  She is an adventurous eater.  She’s not picky.  She is also a healthy eater without being obnoxious.  She doesn’t diet.  She eats carbohydrates and ice cream.

19.  She is cooperative and a problem-solver.  She is flexible and will bend in order to come up with group solutions.  She understands that sometimes being with people is more important than what is being “done”.

20.  She is not a materialist.  She takes an “easy-come-easy-go” attitude about her possessions.

21.  She doesn’t have a car and she doesn’t see why she would ever need one, but she dreamed about a ferry over the Willamette from her Portland neighborhood to mine (just like I did).  She also figured out that it was quicker to roller-blade from her house to ours than to take public transit.

22.  She can make cheesecake.

23.  She was the first one on the scene after Zephyr’s birth and Inez’s birth.

24.  She is Zephyr’s godmother and she really understands what that means.

25.  She has actually said, “Isn’t that a little dramatic?” to me when I really needed it.

26.  She likes to make fun of herself and has a funny giggle that sort of bubbles from the back of her throat when she is trying to illustrate how ridiculous she is.   

Okay now, what is your favorite thing about Anne?

She is a great sister, and I miss her but am so proud that she is off adventuring and exploring all that the world might have in store for her.  I love you Anne!  Happy Birthday!

 

In: Music and philosophical musings, family | | #