Michigan, Roommates and Golden Birthdays

Well as I’m sure we’re all aware Congress and the Senate have finally agreed on something (again I don’t claim to know much about government and/or politics) and the Government has re-opened. It happened on October 17.  Since then I’ve had a crazy work week, working late almost every night and not seeing Scott. He has had normal work hours, just for the record. Well the crazy work week ended and I made my way out to Dearborn, Michigan. Why Michigan you ask? Rest assured, the explanation is in the story.

I have this friend, we’ll call her Cindy (since that’s her name). Cindy and I have been friends since we were both 11 living in Florida. Since that time we’ve kept in contact with each other and even roomed together as Freshmen in college. And that is what brought us together again this time. October 26th was Cindy’s 26th birthday also known as her Golden Birthday. (*Side note: A Golden Birthday is the birthday when you turn the age of the date your birthday is on. So my Golden Birthday was when I was 9 since my birthday is November 9. See how that works?)

Back to the story of why I was in Michigan this weekend. As previously mentioned, Cindy and I have kept in touch through the years and she is usually the one who contacts me. She has a gift for keeping up with friends. We see each other probably twice every year somehow. Well she is also fabulous at planning gatherings of old friends. We were very fortunate to have an excellent apartment of fun, funny and awesome girls our Freshman year and we have stayed in touch with them as well. So for Cindy’s birthday she really wanted us to get together making this visit her birthday present from us. Sounds simple enough right? Correct! After a month of email chatting we all got plane tickets and flew out for the fun!

Here are the roomies in room order starting with the room closest to the front door of our apartment/dorm: Kim Coltrin Bomsta and Katherine Barton Roberts. Kim lives in Provo, UT with husband Zack and daughter Faye. Faye also made the journey out to Michigan. Katherine lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with husband TJ and is expecting their first child in the new year. Behind door number 2 we had: Alissa Soderborg and Katie Hawkins. Alyssa currently resides in Colorado searching for her dream job in food science. Katie is in Provo, UT finishing her Masters in …. I-can-never-remember-the-name-of-it-I-think Landscape Management?? She works with plants and trees and such. She also is very skilled at climbing trees and is preparing for a tree climbing competition in South Carolina. (Yes, this is a real thing and no it’s not climbing trees for the sake of climbing trees. It is an actual skill. Look it up!) Last but not least the last room in the apartment was inhabited by: the guest of honor, Cindy Keller-Bennett herself and Kiersten Hammond Jackson. Kiersten takes up residence in Manassas, VA just outside of Washington, DC with her husband Scott (but you knew that already). Cindy works at a revolutionary school called Waldorf Schools as a teacher of the younger children and, you guessed it, lives in Dearborn, Michigan with husband Michael. Now you know why I was in Michigan!

We all arrived by Friday night and most of us didn’t go to bed until 2am Saturday morning. Saturday was the big birthday party. We woke up, at Einstein’s Brothers Bagels, lounged around then got all pretty for pictures. Nothing celebrates a Golden Birthday with your girlfriends better than taking cute pictures on a beautiful fall day in Michigan. It was almost perfect except for the wind. I could have done without that but we survived. After our photo shoot, Starbucks hot chocolate was definitely in order.



All the girls

Cindy and Me

Kim and Katherine

Alissa and Katie

 

The rest of the day was spent in each other’s company, watching silly chick flicks (Baby Mama and Run Away Bride) and Modern Family, while eating Middle Eastern food and pie. All in all, a pretty great day with friends.

This is how Katie and I celebrate sleep overs! In footie pajamas.

This is Faye, Kim's daughter, also sporting footie pajamas and pulling it off much better than the adults.

Sunday started the mad dash to the airport for everyone. Since we all planned our trips separately, all our flights were at different times. Kim, Faye and Katherine left first at about 4:30 am. Next was Alyssa around 8 am. Katie and I had flights in the afternoon so we went to Sacrament Meeting with Cindy and Mike. Katie then left at 3 and I left at 5. It was a quick trip but some of the most fun I’ve had in a while. We’ve decided to do this again. I vote Cindy’s house again because Michigan is beautiful and she actually has a house!