even more birsday
Well yes, there's one more early March birthday (on this very day) that I feel I need to extol the good qualities of:
Tiffany "I can't believe I don't know her middle name" Russey
Tiffany, or Phinney as I call her, is one of my best friends, and I have been in her company probably less than 10 total hours, if that.
I met her in Seattle for the first time (which I do not remember) when I first moved to Seattle about a dozen years ago. I knew some friends on Campus, and was hanging out with them, probably smoking weed and listening to Pink Floyd. Phinney came in with a friend named Jessica (who I most certainly do remember) probably in order to buy some weed and get the hell out of my friend's dorm before they were subjected to much Pink Floyd.
Then, I met her again many years later, when I lived with my amazing friend Lorelei. Phinney was a good friend of hers, and we met then. I gave her a massage once and for some reason it got us both kind of flustered and uncomfortable, which is rare.
I didn't get to know her very well, however, since she decided to move across the globe and become deeply involved with some Waldorf Teacher Training. Once, while hanging out with my sister, I ran into her during a short visit to Seattle. We were happy to see each other and exchanged information.
A few months later, one of the lushest letters I have ever received arrived in my inbox. It was accompanied by photos, and was a loving and detailed chronicle of her recent travels. It was one of the most striking letters I ever received, and it floored me that she had taken the time to write such a beautiful travelogue.
I of course had been in Seattle the whole time, but wrote a thankful letter back about my own life.
Years later, and I have been a participant in one of the richest and loveliest correspondances in my life. Phinney has always been there for me with amazing stories of her world travels, philosophical talks about the differences and similarities of mystical Christianity and Vajrayana Buddhism, photos of beautiful places, and an otherwise very multi-faceted portrait of her beautiful mind. (And face! When I find that picture I will post it.)
Now she lives in Ireland, and we are a little bit more technically connected. We even IM now. But, the quality of her communication is still something I will always treasure. Thank you for the richness of your words, your openness and friendship. You are really a treasure to me, Phinney!
Phinney, I'm glad you were born!