♫Nina♪

I remember you initiating a conversation with me when I was new at La Salle. We were 11 years old. You did it by showing me our six degrees of separation through our parents and through your cousins who were on the same LSGH baseball team as my brothers. That early on you were the cool girl with a monster human web and through the years I've always admired the fact that you never belonged to one particular group but have had meaningful connections with so many.



In writing this, I think back to a blood compact in some utility room by the gym, made-to-order tees with fuzzy monsters that say "The Real Group," making telebabad about one day putting up a recording studio together, WKFM, our vocal repertoire that included "Day by Day," "One Voice," "Magkaibigan, Nagka-ibigan," Plus One personalized note pads and low-rise socks, the dreaded bull-sessions, the "Sold Out" concert...





Then you were off to San Francisco. Though you've lived so far away for so long, I love the fact that we've remained connected through some cosmic direct line to one another. The two years I was in a minefield, you were really there to hold my hand and be a source of encouragement. I never really thanked you for that and I don't think you'll ever know how much that meant to me.

You're turning 40 --- which means I'm not too far behind! So to my beautiful, extraordinary, dependable, super-mom, fabulous, amazing friend: Happy, happy, happy 40th birthday! Sending lots of hugs and kisses your way! Love you! XOXOX, Geri