Dear my favorite Sam Gauthier in the whole wide world,

You are an explosion of chocolate lava in the middle of the ocean, a cauldron of popcorn flavored jellybeans at 2 in the morning, and a rainbow of song lyrics that looks for turtles in a crowd of people. You are my best friend and you remind me to love life and all the people in it. It's your 21st birthday and I think it's about time we celebrate you for the spontaneous, loving, enthusiastic, hard-working person you are.

I met you my freshman year of high school, and I was convinced you did not like me at all. I don't really know why, but you had so many friends in the basketball program and since you were a year older, I thought I wasn't cool enough to hang with you. You would come sit with me and my friends at lunch sometimes, but I thought maybe it was more to be with them rather than me. I thought we might enjoy each other's company every once in a while, but that might be it.

By my junior year, you became one of the most important people in my life.

We started carpooling to basketball together or find time to warm up and stretch together once we got there. You would always pair up with me to shoot foul shots just so you could distract me, but I didn't mind. We would sit near each other on the way home from a game and talk about what we planned to do that weekend, and I appreciate that more than you know. It wasn't a secret that I didn't fit in with the rest of the team and you're really the one who got me through that long, frustrating, miserable season.

During school I worked as a Student Ambassador in the guidance office during mod E, and every other day when you had your lab mod off, you would come hang with me and eat your lunch. You always brought me a Little Debbie's chocolate chip cookie pie that you got from the caf. We would eat and laugh and do crossword puzzles before it was time for class. I miss that.

The first time I ever got in the car with you was when we were working a basketball tournament together and I broke the cord that played the music. You snap chatted our car ride all the way to RadioShack, and all I could think was "Why am I letting this girl drive me anywhere?" I thought I probably wouldn't let you do that again. But since then, you have driven me to every restaurant I can think of, to the mall, to go sledding, to the nail salon and even to the puppy fair thing that we took Wilma to that one time. I love my Sam Gauthier car rides.

We've laughed together, we've cried together, and we've ranted together. We've supported each other through really bad breakups and academic stress. The first time you cried in front of me I remember it was a really big deal for you, and I don't think I told you how much I appreciate your vulnerability. I don't think I told you how much it meant to me when you almost got involved with the toxic fight in my breezeway, but you trusted me to handle him on my own. I don't think I told you how much I admire you for your endless abilities to make every moment count.

You always order my McDonald's sundaes with extra hot fudge and you pay for the entire meal (and coffee) when I forget my wallet. You walk into my house like it's your own and put your car keys at the front counter with everyone else's. You have beautiful tattoos, each with their own special meaning, and you are the most independent person I know. You always work more than one job and you go on adventures that don't always end well (hope your LEG is improving since I talked to you last; don't go hiking again please and thank you).

You have an alter ego named Jake and I don't like him very much because he takes away from your grace and dignity, but he hasn't been around in a while. We have celebrated prom, graduations, and the college process. We both took turns coaching the 4th and 5th graders at Webster (imagine how fun it would be to coach together someday; don't worry I'll love them up while you make them do pushups, it'll be a great balance). And we have had amazing Mario Kart battles with Jack, Kyle, and Hieu, and I can't wait for more of those in the future.

I miss you when I'm at college and I'm sorry I'm so bad at making plans. I hope when your leg is better you'll be able to come down and visit, and I'll definitely see you in two weeks when I'm home for spring break. Until then I hope you have a fantabulous birthday week, Sam Gauthier. You bring nothing but happiness and laughter into my life and my whole family adores you. Everyone needs a Sam Gauthier in their life. Keep working hard and I will see you real soon.

XOXO

Your best friend