(There’s a lot of Barbie® hype out there right now, so I thought my beautiful wife’s birthday would be a good time to update this post originally published 12 years ago).

When my wife was a little girl, she wanted to be Barbie – tall and blonde and all the rest. But instead, God decided to make her Midge® – Barbie’s best friend. Midge was shorter and brunette and NOT BARBIE. But even though Midge (Deb) is ‘vertically challenged’ you shouldn’t be fooled by her size. She is larger than life. Her circle of influence is boundless. She dreams big. She has more class in her little finger than most folks have in their entire body. And she has more friends today than I have had in my entire life.

Most descriptions of her include phrases like big heart; generous spirit; huge smile; hearty laugh; giving friend; loving mother, and grandmother. These are hardly the images of a mousey little Midge. And Deb does things in a big way, too. Meals are an event. You’ll never leave her table hungry. Holidays are a time for elegant decorating and grand entertaining, and fabulous food. She works hard and she plays hard, too.

And if you are in need, she’s the friend/sister/daughter/mother/grandmother to call on. If you need a laugh, she will always deliver. If you need someone to hold or if you need to be held, her arms are always wide open. If you need to cry, she will cry, too. Debbie has this incredible gift of making you feel that when she’s with you, no one else is more important or more needed at that moment than you. You have her complete undivided attention. She gives her entire self.

Her children and grandchildren will also tell you that she is a ‘force to be reckoned with’. And most importantly, you should NEVER attempt to hurt one of her children or grandchildren – she’s like a lioness in her need to protect them. And I believe that she would stare down the devil if the need arose.

As for me, well when Deb walks in the room it’s like everyone else fades into the background. All the light in the space seems to be emanating from her. She just gets to me. She always tells our granddaughters “To be pretty; you have to act pretty”. And she lives those words, too. Her beauty shines through.

Barbie, you might be a statuesque blonde, but you are empty inside, I’ll take ‘ma femme petite belle’ over you any day!

Even though I’m over a foot taller than she, I know that Deb stands well above me in terms of heart and soul.

Peace,

Denis

Debbie – Happy Birthday! It’s been my pleasure and an honor to look up to you all these many years. I love all four feet eleven inches of you and this life we share. ~ D