  Birthday Friday was our dear friend Kathryn's thirtieth birthday. Today was her surprise party, and boy was she surprised. Kathryn's mom, and her boyfriend Jess, planned this elaborate surprise party, complete with catered dinner, a bar with plenty of beer, wine, and cosmopolitans, and a sound-system. There was even a performance by Trois (Kathryn's mother and mates, complete with beehive wigs, singing). Kathryn was completely taken by surprise, and it was especially rewarding after her actual birthday had passed "unnoticed" by friends (a fact that had her bumming quite a bit, apparently).
She was flabbergasted that we were throwing the party for her in the first place, and reduced to tears when she realized that some friends had flown in from the eastern time zone for the event. My own sweet Katherine was there, Kathryn being one of her most adored adult friends, and Kate had a delicious time and received many compliments for being both a polite, grown-up girl and for being a complete ham. She entertained a group of the adults for quite some time by trying on the singers' wigs and gowns. Apparently many photos of her were taken...I hope they make their way back to me! We found out that mutual friends Nate and Ericka are expecting a baby (due in August). So many babies these last couple of years!! Very happy for them; they both seemed in a good, centered, calm place about it.
Well I remember the days of my own pregnancy... Anyway, the night was about Kathryn, and she seemed to have a good one. I believe that my thirtieth birthday was spent in much less a loved and glorious fashion. Kathryn has become a dear friend to us all in just the few years we've known her, and I hope that we can continue to know her for years to come. She and Jess are one of those rare couples with whom Chris and I both feel totally comfortable, and I've come to realize that's a precious, rare thing where couples are concerned.
All too often, there's one side of a couple that is more dear to you than the other, but in the case of Jess and Kathryn, they're both exceptionally dear to us. It was an honor to be invited to such an event. I'm so glad we were able to be there. 
