I should add...

It’s Sarah’s birthday today and every year when this day rolls around, I consider writing a proper tribute. I’ve never done it before because I’m afraid I won’t get it right. When you describe your love for a person, you want it to be unique; no clichés and no one else’s words but your own. And you want to say everything. It’s a pretty easy task to fail at. So rather than try and say it all right now, let’s consider this the first in a continuing series of posts about Sarah. I’ll add to it and refine it over time until I do get it right, however long that takes.

What I forget most often—or at least take for granted on a near-daily basis—is how smart she is. And this is funny because that’s probably one of the first things you realize about Sarah when you meet her. First, she’s got a memory like no one else I know. If you’ve ever mentioned, say, your birthday, the names of your grandparents, your favourite colour, the first car you drove, anything like that… she will never forget it. She often tells people, “I have a creepy memory,” and it’s true. She’d make a great detective (or an excellent stalker). And couple this memory with a keen interest in all manner of topics: history, sports, science, pop culture, politics, economics. She’s always reading and always learning more, and it just seems to me to be an amazing amount for one person to know without forgetting a bunch of stuff they used to know. And she’s constantly thinking and planning; I don’t think her mind ever goes into neutral. When she’s quiet, she’s probably thinking about the mortgage crisis in the US, or meal planning for the next week, or mulling over travel ideas for three years from now.

And all that intelligence comes packaged with a really big heart. I think it’s far easier to be cold or distant when you know that much, when comprehension and recall come so easily to you. But if you know Sarah and you’ve ever been hurt or down, then you’ve seen firsthand that she will give you the greatest support. I’ve seen her talk for hours to friends (and occasionally strangers) who have needed an ear. I’ve seen her fly across the country to help someone out. She feels such great sympathy for her friends when they go through a hard time; it keeps her up nights. But she’s also someone you want around at your best times as well. She’s been the go-to girl at a ton of weddings. She’ll help you arrange your vacation (whether or not she gets to come along too). She has the smarts and the tenacity to put you in touch with the things you need, whatever that might be. And she has wonderful, contagious enthusiasm. She’s the only adult I know who will literally hop up and down with excitement. She’ll get incredibly excited on someone else’s behalf—over a new relationship, a new baby, a promotion, a move. She’ll be your cheering squad, your fan, and your closest of friends.

I’m very lucky and I’m profoundly grateful to have her in my life, and I know I don’t say either of those things often enough. Happy Birthday, baby. There’ll be more of this to come because I’ve just scratched the surface, but I’m glad to have finally made a start.