Happy Birthday Aunt Patti!

{Uncle Russ, Me, Aunt Patti 2006}

Tomorrow is my Aunt Patti's 60th Birthday. Perhaps I shouldn't tell her age, but I guess its a little late for that. Here are some interesting little tidbits that you may or may not want to know...

• When I was in kindergarten, my Aunt bought me my very own walkman and Madonna's Like A Virgin tape. I was in Heaven...strutting my stuff and singing my little heart out.
  
• Around that same time, I was obsessed with my Aunt's braces. I was in love with them. I wanted them. I needed them. So when she had them taken off, she saved them in a box and she gave them to me. (Yes, I know how weird this makes me. But it is also a perfect illustration of her love for me.)
• Even though I would kick her in the head, she always let me sleep in her bed for spend the night parties.
• She made tapes of all of her Beatles music for me when I was in elementary school...just so I could sing along with her in the car.
• She took me to Ravinia Park outside of Chicago every chance she got so that I could hear the symphony (along with Davey Jones and Tony Bennett).
• She let me order an espresso with dinner in Morocco at Epcot when I was in 5th grade. And then let me order something else when I realized how awful it was.
• She saw every play that I was in in high school.
• She saw every recital I ever danced in.
• She was here for the birth of the girls.
• She never questioned when I wanted a tamale and a milkshake for lunch.
• Chandler's middle name is Patricia...after her.
  

My aunt has always been there for me. She has always listened. She was always there to wrap her arms around me and dry my tears. I could call her (or my uncle) whenever - no matter the time of day - and for any reason...they would always answer. And now she is doing the same for my children as she did for me...and I love her even more for it.

Even though I can't be there for it, I hope that she has the best birthday ever known to man...because she deserves it. I love you, Aunt Patti.