I Heart Friends

I've got great friends. I mean, really amazing, we're going to grow old together, to die for friends. And although I've always known that, Sunday led me to believe it a bit more.

Sunday was my birthday. I'm officially 26. I wanted to do that "26 things to do before you turn 26" list, but life got in the way and I think I'm okay with that.

Anyway, after a long night of Halloween, Samir gave me my birthday presents.

Here's what he got me:

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell

Now, you might be thinking "wait, don't you already own those?" Yes, I do, but those old copies have now been replaced (specifically the High Fidelity - it was a movie cover and we all know how I feel about those) because these new ones are so much better.

You see, authors never visit Florida. Ever. It's like there's an electric fence around the country that stops just short of Florida.

Knowing this, Samir found out when and where some of my favorite authors were touring. Clearly, he couldn't go see them, so he got some of our friends to go to the readings and get books autographed for me.

Seriously.

So...

My old roommate Sarah saw Hornby in Seattle

His sister saw Niffenegger in New York

My old roommate Shannon saw Vowell in San Francisco

I got three books. All three personalized and autographed, all three wishing me a happy birthday.

And that's where I was astounded. First, I was beyond excited about the books - especially the Vowell, considering she's my writing hero. Second, I couldn't believe Samir went through all the work for me. It was quite possibly one of the most meaningful and thoughtful gifts I'd ever received. Third, I couldn't believe my friends did that for me. With the exception of Shannon, the girls had never read their respective authors before. So, really, they were taking time off to see an author they weren't familiar with. They did that for me.

Moments like that are incredibly humbling. I worry about work and life and school so often that I forget how many people are really there for me. How far they'd go to make me smile. How they know that a simple book could be the perfect present.

I really do have amazing friends (and, yes, a darn good boyfriend). I know quite frankly that without them I wouldn't be the same Lauren. I wouldn't be complete. They make me happy.

I also know that I have to start preparing some damn good Christmas presents.

**Apparently Hornby asked who Lauren was, when autographing my book. She explained to him what Samir was doing, how he was having people around the country autograph books for me. He loved the idea! So, if when reading his next book you see mention of a beautiful curly haired girl getting a book autographed for a friend, think of us.