a birthday eulogy

Ok, ok, I know I have failed my 14 day blogging challenge miserably! This whole blogging thing is a lot harder than I thought! However, on this lovely day of June 5, I would like to take some "oh so precious" time to dedicate a blog- or a birthday eulogy, as I am choosing to call it- to my good friend and traveling partner, Adam Van Straten.

Most people when they hear the word eulogy think of a dead person. This is not always the case, a eulogy is also considered "high praise or commendation" according to dictionary.com. Being the cheesy person that I am, I was looking up some quotes on friendship, thinking they might be good to put in a card or in this blog and I came across one that inspired the title to this blog: " Do not save your loving speeches for your friends till they are dead; do not write them on their tombstone, speak them now instead." We can all thank Ann Cummings for that lovely quote. I decided to take her advice and celebrate the day of Adam's birth with a loving speech, haha. So Adam, this one is for you!

Adam and I have technically known each other since the 5th grade. However, all throughout gradeschool, middle school, and high school neither of us had ever spoken a word to each other. We have discussed it recently and realized we really don't even have any memories of each other during any of those times at all. It wasn't until one happenstance day in the summer of 2005 that we actually met. The story is actually very random in itself- I got to know one of Adam's best friends, Ryan, and one day I went to hang out and met Adam. We got along instantly- which also brings me to another quote I found- " Two may walk together under the same roof for many years, yet never really meet; and two others at first speech are old friends." -Mary Catherwood. At that point we never would have expected to be living together in Korea. We chatted randomly for the next year. One day, knowing he was a fellow wanderlust at heart, I asked him randomly, "Hey, do you wanna move to Korea with me?" He looked at me and said, "yeah, ok." Thus started our adventures! We made plans and here we are!

Sometimes I wonder if my experience in Korea would be the same without Adam. I have heard it said that it is not where you are but who you are with that makes the difference. I think this is definitely true in my case. I have honestly found a friend that I get along great with and one who challenges me to think differently and has a genuine love for life! I don't think I could ask for more! In honor of Adam's 25th birthday today, I am going to attempt to write 25 things I appreciate about Adam (after all, this is a eulogy)
1. His love for life
2. He introduced me to Northern Exposure
3. The way he can pull a random quote off the top of his head that fits any situation
4. When he says, "that's so strange"
5. He can cook
6. He is genuine
7. He is creative
8. He is a true wanderlust
9. He loves his family
10. He loves his friends
11. He is an amazing writer
12. I don't know anyone else that can talk to a dog for an hour
13. He is always ready to have a good time
14. He is free
15. We usually know what the other person is thinking
16. He laughs at my jokes (and is usually the only one laughing)
17. I laugh at his jokes
18. We can tell each other basically anything, no matter how random or weird
19. He makes me eat fruit
20. His intellect
21. He stops to examine every random plant he sees
22. His ugly blue wrist supporter he wears at the gym
23. He introduced me to Jonathan Safron Foer's books
24. He has a didgeridoo
25. He is unique

I will conclude by saying, Thank you Adam! You have been a great friend to me and I am looking forward to many more years of friendship and adventures. You are a beautiful individual and I am thankful that I have a friend like you in my life! Happy 25th birthday!!