44 and Fabulous: A Birthday Letter to Lisa
Books, a bestseller, a new mayor, a goodbye to Grandma, and at least three million phone calls. Here's what I see in Lisa at 44.
Dearest Lisa, today you turn 44, and I have a feeling you like that double number! What a year you've had. You wrote books, including a SPIEGEL bestseller (Germany's big bestseller list), drafted proposals, ran a campaign, helped get a mayor elected, sat with grieving people, pulled shifts with the police, walked a guest child through everyday life, said goodbye to your grandma, and to your family dog too.
You nursed your daughter back to health before her solo trip through Asia, supported your husband through his career change, cheered on your sons from the sidelines, moved your choir forward, took care of your horse, made new friends, comforted old ones, filled our blog with words, gave a huge reading, binged an impressive pile of books on vacation, danced at Karneval (Germany's Mardi Gras), taught apprentices, and stepped out of your comfort zone and straight into growth.
You've called me at least three million times, cheered me on, and listened to me cry and laugh. You've taken care of your family, done the laundry, made breakfast for overnight guests, and picked teenagers up from the train station or parties in the middle of the night.
When I write it all down, it hits me again: you have so much energy. And what's special about your energy is that it rubs off on everyone else. You NEVER use it to make others feel small so you can feel bigger.
We've walked a long road side by side. We've seen each other in the darkest hours and celebrated wonderful moments together. Even in the very lowest lows, your strength was never completely gone. You always picked yourself back up and found the good in life again. It must be that Cologne cheerfulness, that famous Kölsche Frohnatur.
You've been a role model to me for a long time now. I admire your joy and your optimism. I admire your social conscience and your deep desire to make the world a little better. I admire your creative mind and the way you keep reinventing yourself and learning something new.
Happy Birthday, you amazing woman!
Your next year is sure to be just as exciting. Your twins turn 18, and you're stepping into a whole new chapter of your life. You've got everything you need to make it a good one. The world is waiting for people like you. And if things do get stormy, I'll be just a phone call away next year too…
Here's to you, dear Lisa. Long may you live! And remember: 44 and fabulous!
This story first appeared in German on StadtLandMama.
