birthday girl

today is this lovely maid's birthday.

my cousin, Amanda.

top ten reasons to love her:

* she is a fascinating and brilliant mother. one of the best i have seen.

* she will never forget to send a thank you note or a note "just because".

* her house is always impeccable and organized. at least, every time i have seen it.

* she is such a gracious hostess, like a true southern belle. seriously, you should stay the night at her house sometime, it's like resort living.

* she has a voice like a lullaby, which i think she got from her mother, soft, soothing and empathetic. but she can yell like the sailor too.

* she is as tough as nails. one strong woman she is.

* she baked banana bread on the morning of my wedding and convinced me that i needed wedding day perfume to always remind me of that day. and then she bought me some.

* she used to play make-believe with me when we were tiny, even though she is four years older than me.

* she has always given me really good advice about boys.

*she knows me really well its almost creepy.

* she is the older sister i never had.

i love you dee. a lot. and i hope your birthday is perfect, even though you are stuck painting. which i know you don't like.

would it help if i baked you a cake?