Birthday Girl

As many of you already know, Tracy turned 27 on Saturday.  We had a great time celebrating the big day with Don and Donna.  In addition to Ellis Island we made sure to appropriately party by upping our caloric intake – first via burgers at Shake Shack, and capped off with cupcakes from Crumbs.

As many of you are aware, I had planned a somewhat different type of gift for Tracy this year.  Knowing that it would be quite different to be away from so many friends and family on her birthday, I asked quite a few of Tracy’s closest confidants to answer the following questions:

1. What’s the first thing you think about when you think of Tracy?
2. What is the thing you respect most about Tracy?
3. What is the thing you miss the most about not being able to see Tracy as much now that she’s in NYC?

The responses, as it turns out, were better than I could have hoped.  Just about everyone sent a reply, and the results were simultaneously heartfelt, funny and 100% encouraging.  I was able to share the responses at various points during the day - split up in groups by what the guys said, the gals, and finally, family.

Though the various supporting details and examples were wide-ranging and creative, a few consistent memes seemed to find their way into almost every response.  For those who know Tracy well, they are no surprise: her laugh; the way she cares deeply about people; her consistency towards all people; her faith; and the incredible impact all these things make on the people around her.

It was a joy to be able to share these encouraging words with Tracy on her special day – when I came up with the idea I had hoped it would turn out as well as it did.  What I didn’t know at the time was the impact reading these words would have on me.  I had no way of knowing how much mere words could impact my own gratefulness in being able to call this compassionate, beautiful, caring, laughing woman my wife.

So thank you to everyone who participated.  You truly made it a special day – for Tracy, and for me.