Happy Birthday K Tap

All I can ask for is forgiveness over the lateness of this blog. Katie's birthday was 3 days ago! However, New Years day was spent sleeping until four and then hanging out at Katie's birthday celebration until Midnight. As for the other two days, I have no excuse.

Happy belated 24th Birthday Katie!

It seems silly to introduce Katie like I have with every one else. If you read my blog and you don't know that Katie Tapper is my oldest friend, then you probably don't know me very well.


A few reasons why I'm grateful for you Katie:

• You call me out and keep me real. There are only a handful of people who will put me in my place when I need it. I can always count on you to say, "Merry, are you kidding me? Make it better!" when I do something wrong. I appreciate that more than you'll ever know.
  
• You're full of life. I know a lot of the time you don't feel this way, but you're wrong. Your presence lights up a room, and creates energy for people that they didn't have before, especially me.
  
• You're one of the strongest people I know. Again, I know a lot of time you don't feel like this because you see others skating through life while you're not. However, if those people had to deal with the challenges you deal with every day, they wouldn't hold up quite as well. It's inspiring to think about during my own challenges.
  
• You make it comfortable for people to be who they are. I know all your closest friends will agree with me. Sometimes it's hard to be real, but you never give anyone any reason to feel uncomfortable in their own skin. You never judge your friends, and you're always there to listen.
• You have a huge heart. You make the relationships in your life numero uno. You put your whole heart into you family and friends. Some people don't get how important that is, but you seemed to figure it out quite early.

I could go on and on about why I'm grateful for Katie, and why I love you so much, but I wanted to take a different twist on your birthday blog.


Some of my favorite memories of you Katie, age 23 (I will not get into specifics because it would turn into a novel):

• Automatic Love Letter @ the Magic Stick in Detroit.
• The one and only Katie Tapper show in Hastings.
• Countless movie nights where we would battle over the genre and would end up watching some suspense thriller.
  
• South Haven week, August. Especially sitting out by the fire until 3am.
• Tegan and Sara Chicago weekend!! Best. concert. ever.
• Starting to play music together again... still haven't figured out a name (maybe in 2009?)
  
• Halloween weekend adventures, including Windsor, casino, and Uh Huh Her.
• Skiing at Holly and Timber Ridge, being there while you snowboarded.
  
• This entire winter break which included a lot of music, movies, talks, 90210, and sleepovers.
  

A few reasons why your 23rd year will make your 24th year better than the rest:

• You've grown up. You realized early on during 23 that it was time to stop treating your body like a freshman in college.
• You've stood up for yourself. You decided that you weren't going to let others walk all over your heart.
• You've accepted yourself a little more. It's tough to feel different, but I can tell you're starting to embrace it.
• You've made positive decisions about your lifestyle. Not many people can recognize what they don't like about their life and make strong efforts to change it.
• You're embracing what truly matters to you. You're family. You're friends. You're future. You're health.
• You've planned a cool future with a really cool chick (me). Hopefully our plans for this year work out and we have an awesome time.
  

Another Birthday Blog

Happy Birthday Erin Page!

Dear Erin,

We've been friends since the 8th grade. And after Katie decided you were cool enough to join our group by successfully making it through a day long super extravaganza bike ride through Paw Paw, you became a permanent part of my high school group. (side note: Little has been made public about what we made people do to prove their worthiness to join our group in Middle School.) And well, honestly, I'm so happy to have you as a friend.

One of my favorite memories of you consists of the day the "crew" stalked the undercover cop by following her home from school one day, and chasing her down once she made her first move. I still have vivid images of your maroon Jimmy skidding around a corner when the cop tried to make a run for it! We were crazy.

Twenty-four is going to be a big year for you, and I'm happy that I'm going to be a part of it. While our friendship has been very distant since we graduated from high school, I still consider you to be one of my best friends. One of my favorite things about you is your ability to light up a room. Your smile and your laugh make it impossible for anyone not to enjoy your company.

Thank you Erin for being such an important part of my life. I hope you're birthday is great and I can't wait to see you over New Years.

Love,

Merry

Happy Birthday K.A.

To Katie (aka Katie A, Blonde Katie, Katiecat)

Happy 25th Birthday!!

For those who don't know Katie, she was one of my favorite Americans in London. By the time we left London, we had taken over five European trips together, spent countless days exploring London together, and spent countless nights either out at the pub or eating ice cream in Jess's room. After London, we still kept in contact. And to this day, we still get to see each other at least once a year.

25 things I love about you Katie

1. You have a huge heart. You're the type of person who loves with her whole self.
2. You are strong willed. You have had your fair of challenges in your lifetime, yet it never seems to break you in the end.
3. You always have the best stories. I live to hear what you've been up to because it's always entertaining.
4. You listen.
5. You care.
   
6. You don't judge me. For those three reasons, I've always felt like I could completely open up to you.
7. You've held me up when I was too drunk to walk.
8. You're always a great surprise. Every time I learn something new about you I always end up thinking, "Why am I surprised that she can/did that? I should know better."
   
9. You are very talented.
10. You can see beauty in almost everything.
    
11. You are very unique.
12. You are intelligent. Probably one of the more intelligent people I know, yet you never flaunt it or make others feel below you.
13. You lead with your heart.
14. You have courage. It takes a lot of courage to live life by your hearts desires.
    
15. You are lively and fun. I love how you can be the life of the party and then 20 seconds later you can be having an intellectual and personal conversation with whomever you choose to shine on that day.
16. You are true to yourself. There are way too many examples I could give to this fact.
17. You love the outdoors. I love that you are in to snowboarding and hiking and just being in nature.
18. You're beautiful, but don't flaunt it.
19. You're beautiful, but not shallow.
    
20. You like to travel, and appreciate what seeing the world can do for you.
21. You have an awesome sense of humor. You can take a joke and you can give them right back.
22. You give support. You're always there for your friends, and are always willing to lend them a hand if they need it.
23. You take amazing photographs. You have an eye for turning something ordinary into something extraordinary.
24. You made me drink tea. I love tea now and it always makes me think of you.
25. You are a most amazing friend. There are only a handful of people you meet in your lifetime that you know you should keep around. I fully intend on being lifelong friends with you. Even if you like it or not.
    

Overwhelming lucky

By no means do I hope that this blog makes me out to be some all gracious, super happy person. I'm assured by the fact that most of the people who read this blog know the real me and know that I am certainly not a happy or gracious person all the time. This blog is meant as a check. It's to say, "hey Merry, guess what? You're life is pretty good, stop fretting."

That's why I think it's a great idea when others send me guest lists. Even though I've only had this blog for a week, I can already see the positive affects of writing down what you've got "going on for your fine self." Send them to me! merryroberts@gmail.com




I think it's interesting to think of the people who have come in and out of your life. I have one person, in particular, who has come in to my life and that I look up to like no other. He's no more than an friendly acquaintance, but I've seen his life turn inside out, then turn up side down. I admire him because through all of his challenges, he has kept his head on straight, and he has kept his chin held high. He accepted everything that was thrown at him, and he found a way to make the very best of each situation and to turn his life in to something he truly enjoys. I doubt he thinks that anyone looks up to him. I doubt he thinks that anyone admires him. However, if I ever need inspiration, I will always look to him. Thank you Christopher Burlingham.




This weekend has been great. I felt lucky this weekend because:

• My new friend, Sean, that I haven't spoken to in a year, called me and invited me to the Piston's game. My very first Pistons game, might I add! It was an entirely great night full of new people, new adventures, and good experiences.
• Katie came all the way out to Detroit to see me... which she's been doing a lot lately! Only a few of my home friends have come to see me in Detroit, and Katie has come more than I could ever ask of her.
• Dan, Katie and Brenden came snowboarding with me. It's great to be able to share my hobbies with people.
• TV shows are put on DVD / People accept my teenage-drama obsession. Thank you to that special one who watched hours of 90210 with me.
• Brian made an effort to hang out with me. I got to share a lot of quality time with Brian and Kevin. I always love hanging out with those two.
• Kristina thought of me and gave me a token to remember it. How could you not feel special when someone picks you up a present that "reminds you of them"?
• I got to see my favorite Grosse Pointe girls. They always make me so happy.

On my drive home tonight, I got overwhelming thankful. I can say this feeling doesn't happen to me often, so I tried to relish in it.

I am so lucky to have so many people who accept me for the person I am.

I am so lucky that I've let people into my life and they've elected to stay.

Thank you.

Katie Tapper

As a note**** Katie told me I could not edit or refuse to post this. It was never my intention to get obscene amounts of gratitude placed towards me, but I will not refuse the offer! Katie Tapper has been my longest, most cherished friend. I've known her since before my brain could fully make memories, and have traveled on this journey called life with her ever since. Not many people are lucky as me to know the truth depths of Katie, but I know I'm very lucky to have her as part of my life every day.

INTRODUCING
GUEST BLOGGER
KATIE TAPPER

Dear Merry,

As long as i can remember myself i can remember you. I consider our friendship to be unlike all others. I have always held you up to high standards and looked up to you in so many different ways. Today i wanted to let you know that i am truly grateful for you!

I'm grateful to have a friend...

• That inspires me to be a better person
• Who has always had my best interest in mind when helping me make a decision
• That is always there to listen
• Who has put my insecurities in front of her own
• That has seen my highest highs and lowest lows and does not judge me for any of it

Merry, once again you have caught me off guard. Thanks for inspiring me to be a little more grateful everyday.