Lynnie Lynnie Lynniekins

Today is my co-worker Lynn's birthday. If you've had the pleasure of meeting her, she needs no introduction. But I should most certainly clarify. Co-worker Mireia took exception to being referred to as "co-worker" on this blog because it makes it sound like these people aren't my friends. Of course, if you've talked to me at all in the last 6 months, then you know that I simply adore my "co-workers." They are dear friends to me by this point and they are the number one reason I get out of bed in the morning to come into work (well, the pay check is a very close second). So, "co-worker" should just put it in context that I see these people every day at work, but one should remember that really, they are good friends of mine.

Back to Lynn. When I enter a new situation, I am reserved and somewhat shy. I have a quirky (some would say "moronic" or "difficult") personality that is not to everyone's taste, and so I hold back until I get to know the people around me. Lynn is the opposite. Aside from having a lovely and effervescent personality, she is sunny and outgoing from the start. Truth be told, it was my clipped attitude that deflated poor Lynn initially and made her complain to wonderful husband Kevin that her co-workers "sucked."

Obviously, I need to work on my attitude problem when I meet people in a new situation. Because I missed out on prime months of friendship with this woman while I acclimated to my surroundings.

One day while chatting with Lynn about her childhood dog Simba, I remarked that I loved the Westminster Dog Show. "We should go to that!" Lynn remarked. I agreed. But rather than just a statement of interest, Lynn went to work and got us tickets (Watermelanie came too), set up places for us to sleep at her house and made us coffee the next morning before work. At the show, we were able to get backstage and see the doggies. Later, Lynn went off to get a soda. She disappeared for over a half hour. Where had she gone? Back downstairs to play with the dogs, even though she's allergic and couldn't stop sneezing after that.

Lynn's fun-loving spirit meant that, even though she had lots of work to do and plenty of other things to worry about, she came with me to see the circus elephants walk through the Queens Midtown Tunnel back in March. And rather than moan and groan the next day about how tired she was.... she exclaimed, "That was awesome! We have to do that again next year!"

I've got other plans for Lynn, though.... like a trip to Vegas. There aren't too many people you can have that much fun with and tell your life story to with no regrets the next day. And to think of all the good times I was missing out on last fall. Happy birthday, girl.