Today - some years ago (and I won't reveal how many...) a wonderful person came into being.

It's hard to think of a time when I didn't know her - and perhaps there never was such a time.

Whenever the time of our first meeting was is immaterial, though. It's a friendship that always has been, no matter what - it is a current that runs through everything.

But for now - we met in 6th grade. She was a scofflaw and I was a safety patrol. Apparently my first words to her were "slow down!!"

Which she, of course, proceeded to ignore.

The seasons moved on and we became friends.

We helped Marty turn Salem Creek blue. We defied the odds and saw Led Zeppelin - though we were probably way too young (though not too young for Jimmy Page, it seems....but we didn't go there).

We gathered others along the way - becoming legion - and that's how we liked to phrase it.

We went to college together - and weathered all the slings and arrows that college brings.

We played in a band together - and survived to tell the tale.

We survived various relationships - the good, the extremely bad and the comically ugly.

We have been places that defy logic.

We were together (in an ancient burial mound no less) for the millenium - watching the stars fall in an ancient sky as the fireworks announced a new era.

And we drank shandies.

We wore bridesmaid gowns for one another - and for others in our clan.

There has been so much laughter, and yes - there have been tears. There have been times when we were far, far apart - and times that we're so together it's astonishing.

There really are not words that can capture Lexy. She is a force of nature - elemental, really. She is earth, air, fire and water. She is a magical being - sometimes in this world and sometimes not.

But I am so very glad that she is in my world.

Happy Birthday dear Lexy.