The Power of Good People and Friendships

Amanda + Susann

Amanda + Susann. Playa and Tulum will never be as good again unless you are there. A couple of my newest formed friendships and while I have only known you for such a very short time your impact was monumental and I am forever grateful to have met you both. I will meet you in Portugal? Just watch where you sit…in life in love and clearly on a plane! LOL

Magz

I can’t even…explain how much you mean to me. Our friendship is deep…honestly. I promise to always make you a cake anytime, you don’t even have to be driven by pregnancy hormones and you can call me day or night to vent about baby name stealers. Also, I am so glad that Dave sponsored you or we would have never met. BUWAHAHAHAHAH. (Inside Joke, on the football field with new team member intros)

Dano and Roger

These two…Dano our friendship goes so so so very far back, I think Carson was in grade 1 when we met (2004/2005?). Best moment that forged our friendship in stone…when we hid penis straws all over the mall! hahaha You have always been a sounding board for me. I only hope that I have been as good of a friend to you as you have been to me.

This is Panama

In just 4 short months, you have made it an impossible feat to leave you. It is without a doubt that every time we get together, my cheeks hurt from laughing. It’s a good thing I have decent bladder control. Beth, Anne, Amanda, Spicer…Crump it out ladies at all the NCNK shindigs that will happen while I am not around. But promise me that everyone is a little tidly while crumping. I am devastated that I will miss this epic slip’n’slide & Chicken Sh*t bingo birthday party of the year. Come meet me in Greece, but you can’t share my bed cause Greece means two different things to you and I.

Canadian Dinner Club

Some of you have been in my life for over 10 years and some of you 20 years. I don’t think there is a single one of you at this table that I wouldn’t want on speed dial in a crisis. I wouldn’t want it any other way. We have all shared epic moments together as a group and as individuals. I can say with conviction, that you have all taught me something. You know, day or night, you need me, I got you.

High School friends

You may have been friends since kindergarten and I only joined the clan in grade 9, but we remain friends to this day. If ever there was a guidebook on friendships, you guys are the template for creating friendships that span 40 years. A 40 year friendship is nearly unheard of…but 4-40 year friendships & our 30 year friendship? Well that is a Unicorn. I love you. Sus, Babs, Tanya, Holly

Naoko in Panama

What a fluke to have met you on that Monkey Island tour. You are incredibly kind and I will never forget that day on the boat when you spoke Spanish and I didn’t understand, and then in English and then we spoke in Japanese together. That was such a funny coincidence. 私の友達になってくれてありがとう

Tokyo Girls

These girls that I went to school with in Tokyo in Grade 10. We may have lost touch over the years but we are reconnected once again. I have so very many amazing memories of you guys and a ton of photos too. So many sleep overs, so many adventures. Just a bunch of 15 years old living it up in Tokyo. クリームパン and いちごミルク is life at Meijiro Gakuen. Tanya, Terri and Gill

Dagmara

Why do I call you dagypoo…I have no idea. I think you are the most honest friend I know and it is why I love you deeply. The most authentic moment….when I was sharing crappy dating stories and your response “He just wasn’t that into you”. buwahaha. God love ya sweet cheeks. Be exactly you for always. Only a true friend would tell you your face is dirty. I love you, since day one.

Patricia

We may have met at work (typically I don’t mix work and pleasure), but man we have had some adventures. We have travelled around the world together a couple times now. From the hidden terrace of our haunted airbnb in Sophia shouting “покажи ми циците си”, to going bottoms up with the random juice from strangers in Istanbul to being sheeped in Romania,

Patricia cont.

to the haunted airbnb in Portugal where you snuck into my bed in the middle of the night LOL, soggy pizza in Coimbra, to ‘would you rather’ and ‘am I the asshole’ in Spain, and the 2 random tinder dates we went on in Barcelona….plus all the shenigans at home in Vancouver. Thank you for all travel memories, non travel memories, good times and girly convos about stinky boys. Just saying. Sorry, you get two photos cause I couldn’t decide between my favourite. LOL

Mandie

Mandeliscious. High school buds, bonded by bush parties and a lot of things no one else needs to know about. Our friendship has been up and down at times and yet here we 30 years later friends like no time has passed by. You my dear friend have starred in many of my fond memories. I love you, always have, always will.

Football Family

I may not play with you anymore, but some of us are bonded for life

Katie

buwahaha, I liked you from the first second we met, but I fell in love with you that trip to Kelowna with your Shopping Cart Dance and the fantastic upside down flip on the dance floor. hahahaha It was magical

Nicole

Friends since middle school. There is no doubt in my mind that we will always be friends till we die. Your bathroom gets 4.5 stars for being poop worthy, but our friendship is 5 stars all the way. (inside joke people relax)

Trisha

Over two decades we have been connected. I have so many funny moments I want to share, but a lot of them can’t be posted online. lol. So the best is, you will always be known as “Have a papaya?” and the time you made me smuggle 3 bottles of mini wine into the concert in Nashville in my bra! haha (We won’t talk about what happened in Mexico LOL)

Veronica

Another friendship formed through sport well over 10 years ago. We have shared many secrets, your soul is kind and pure and whenever I need peace I think of you. I know it sounds corny, but it’s true. You are such a beacon for destressing, just being around you is therapeutic. Besos mi amiga. Oh…did you say ‘beach’ or ‘b*tch”?

Carmy & Frenchie

Another couple of girls with stories not fit for the digital world. Don’t be fooled by these beautiful faces, the brains in these two. wow! Two of the most brilliant and business savvy women I know. Carmy a revered woman in her field and Frenchie…your work is in space at the International Space station. holy crap bag! It’s such an incredible privilege to be your friend. I will just say, Carmy your conference stories and Frenchie it’s ok to mow the lawn.

Diana

Always the life/light of any party. You my dear friend know what it means to celebrate life. You are Panamanian after all, it’s in your blood. Now that I have lived in Panama, I know now that when we have a date and I say it’s at 5pm, I will say…that’s 5pm gringa time. Besos my amiga. Oh and it’s chicha not…ch*cha. (I also learned what a fat one is too. buwahahaha. I am disappointed you never teach us anything in Spanish Dianita)

Christie

We date back to when Carson was born…23 years ago. You my dear friend are the most logical and down to earth person I know. I have learned a lot from you. How to be a good person, a good friend, dedicated momma. Never have I ever seen you falter once or lose your cool. Always walking around with your head on straight with purpose. You never forget a birthday, always dedicated to your goals, you are an impressive human being.

Jennifer

I will never forget that first day you came out to try out for the football team and your kidlet, what he said about why you were there. Bless kids for being so authentically honest. Had you not made the cut to be part of the Panther family, we would never have created the game called Yennifer. We owe you many good times. PS. this pic was from our girls weekend in Portland at Voodoo Donuts. I don’t think you ate their famous donut though…the c*ck & b*lls

Katie

Hammy the hammmmster…LOL. Enough said. Just kidding…we have been friends for nearly two decades too but I think the girls night we had a couple years ago when you slept over and we spent hours the next morning just having authentic life conversations about life, love, motherhood. It was that moment that we elevated our already great bond to a whole other level. You will always be hammy to me.

Sian

Another friendship made at work. Generally speaking, I make it a rule not to be personally involved with people I work with, but when someone comes along like you…a girl has got to break the effing rules cause life is way better with you in it. You need a +1 for an event, no matter how last minute, dude you know I am in 100% always.

Caitlin

Some of our conversations are legit questionable. LOL. The first time I met you I thought, god damn this girl talks way too much. Abort Abort, must escape. But you are among the most determined and steadfast people I know. You are an incredible human and your daughter is very lucky to have a mother so generous and bold and unapologetically driven. I love this picture of you eating that hotdog. Good for you!!! LOL

Risa

My Japanese sister. We don’t speak as often anymore but I can’t believe it was just by chance that I was able to live with your family in 1992 in Tokyo and we still to this day chat several times a year. I promise I will make it back to Japan soon. どうもありがとうございました。

April & Beto

Instant bond we had. I think I knew 90% of your life after my first day staying at your hotel buwahaha. Something about our connection was just so easy and smooth, and feels like we have been friends for life. Never lose the snooky poof. It’s endearing. LOL

Serena

Seriously. princesa weiner

And many more…