This is a very special birthday post to a very special birthday girl.

Donkey, my long-time friend and partner-in-crime, turned EIGHTEEN yesterday. Yes, big numbers, people, EIGHTEEN. She has officially graduated from being a little kid to being a big scary adult... Which also means that if the two of us ever go to a bar together, I'd get screwed over by the police and she wouldn't. Not that I plan to go drinking illegally, of course, but still.

It seems just yesterday, though, that we were mere children, acting in The Green Angels with Eujo and Uncle Kasi. I can't believe that we've gone from hating each others' guts to becoming relatively good friends, then becoming even closer when you transferred into my school. Ten years ago, if anyone had asked me what you were to me, I would have said, "My Worst Enemy." Today, the answer would be, "One of my best friends." One of the few people that I really trust no matter what, one of the few people that I know will be there to catch me whenever I fall.

You've had to deal with years of my mood swings, my childish tantrums, and my hypersensitivity. It amazes me how much tolerance you have; if I were you, I would have run, fleeing from the crazy WeiYun person like a startled fawn. Yet, you deal with everything, not just me, with grace and resilence. You're easily THE strongest person I know, and that isn't an exaggeration: it would take a giant hammer and a zillion hard whacks to break you down, and even then, you wouldn't ever give up without a fight.

I'm sorry for being the little brat I was ten years ago, and sorry for being the big brat I am now. But I'm not sorry for the times. The memories. The laughs. The tears- on my part, at least.

Thank you, dearie. I love you.

Happy belated birthday.