I am the luckiest person alive to have incredible friendships like the one I share with Christy - friendships that are open and real and full of laughter - this poem is a gift to celebrate her birth!

we talk about everything, mostly in text, occasionally with coffee in a hotel

wrapped in a soft robe on a Westin heavenly bed.

we talk about nothing, which includes poop and poopy people

we hate and empathize, all at the same time

we talk about work and who we will be if/when we grow up

ice cream scooping, barista-ing, wine pouring, writing, and…corporate reality

we talk about things that should stay within the noodles of our own brains

because they land softly

we re-assure, re-assign, re-invigorate, re-call, re-evaluate, re-enact, re-design,

and, re-gurgitate the next day

we talk about love and loss and hope and meatballs and cheese and calzone

with equal intensity

we talk about our bodies, not what they used to be

glad they still run, walk, bike, swim, yoga, stretch, meditate

we talk about our husbands, imperfect

yet so lovable

we talk about oceans and dreams

because they go hand in hand

we talk about money and poverty and horror and beauty and politics and religion and death

because nothing is off limits

we talk about momming

the joys, the shocks, the hope, the work, the glee, the terror, the courage

we talk about the wonderful yet spell out what needs work

because we care

we talk about the beauty and the strength

holding the fragile and flawed, with tenderness

we talk about time passing and leaves changing

recognizing…we only have now

we talk about fear. so much fear.

together, we punch that shit in the face

we talk about pimples and guts and colons and cancer and open-hearts

because we are doctors

we talk about shame

encourage forgiveness

we talk in emojis

and code, understanding completely

we ask the hard questions as softly as possible

sometimes…we scream them

we talk about being assholes

because we can be them (we call it self-awareness)

we talk about spaghetti and bread and chocolate and pineapple

because food is our love language

we talk about holding on, holding tight, holding space

knowing it all works out in the end

and it is not the end

we talk while we walk through AirPods

crankily snapping - wtf I can’t hear you

we talk about drivel and marvel

sometimes in the same sentence

we curse, compliment, celebrate, cooperate, calm, capitulate, confide

because we like c-words

we talk about what is funny - everything IS

and laugh until we pee

we celebrate another year lived well, together

with gratitude. and joy.