Happy Happy Birthday Sandrine!!!

My dearest Rashida,

Boo, where do I even begin?! We’ve been BFFs and soul sistahs for 20 years this year and everyday I thank God so much for that fateful day we met at freshman orientation before we started high school. If I say it all, folks will probably be reading this ode to you until your next birthday.

Sister dearest, I truly won at life when we met. You are truly one of the most beautiful people inside out that I have the pleasure of knowing. Words really will never be enough to cover your awesomeness. The fact that you’re my longest consistent friend, on its own, speaks volumes. You’ve been such a loyal friend and sister. You are one of the reasons I truly believe soul mates come in many forms and not just the romantic. I love and appreciate you so much. There are so many things I love about you and I will do my best to cover them in this special note.

Next to your unshakeable faith and love for God, you absolutely love your family (blood and chosen) and those you call friends. When we talk about real ones, no one embodies that quality better than you. You ALWAYS look out for those of us blessed to be called your loved ones. I see how you move mountains to make sure we are good in every way. Your kind of love for people is very rare. It truly is unconditional even when we are not the most deserving. To some, this may seem blasphemous because I seem to be putting you on Godlike status. But if folks truly believe we are God’s image bearers, then it shouldn’t be far fetched to call you a goddess in your own right. Your love is pure and enduring. You have a faith in humanity that is inspiring and refreshing. I know this because you are one of the most forgiving people I have ever met. In fact, next to my mom, you are the most forgiving person I know. I’ve seen how you have been gracious to those who have caused you great harm while setting your boundaries. You truly let go and let God and I bear witness to how God comes through for you as a result.

When it comes to love for family I especially love how you love your mom and grandma. I just know grandma is so proud of you and delights in you as her granddaughter. You go out of your way to ensure she is good while you live on different continents. Everyone who knows you, knows that you love your grandma deeply given how you do everything to honor and celebrate her at each given opportunity. I believe firmly that you will live long due to the reverence you show your elders. You really are the embodiment of a ride-or-die for your loved ones. We have no doubt at all that you would actually go to war for us - it helps that you can actually fight hehehehe. Thank you for being so loving and caring.

You are kindness personified. You give and share from a genuine place of care. It’s a core part of who you are. One of my fondest memories of you is a conversation we had where you asserted that when you make it big financially (and you most certainly will), you will make sure I have a significant share. You specifically said, “I eat, you eat” and it has forever stayed with me. In case folks don’t immediately get what I am saying, you basically affirmed that your success would always be shared with your loved ones and it doesn’t matter whether or not we have a hand in it. You are committed to ensuring that as long as you are good, everyone around you will be too.

What’s even more endearing about this assertion is how you’ve been practicing it for as long as I’ve known you going all the way back to buying me snacks from the vending machine in high school. You have always been faithful in sharing what you have that I have never had a reason to doubt that when the millions roll in, you will be faithful there too. And trust me when I say this is mutual. When I eat, you will also eat. You have modelled that so well that I couldn’t even deviate from such a sisterhood standard if I wanted to. Watching you always challenges me to do more to help others. You are such a beacon and we are all made better knowing you. I also love the way you have a knack for bringing different people together and always helping people feel welcome. It is actually the foundation on which our relationship was built.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned from you is how to gas up those you love. Right from day 1, you have been the biggest cheerleader (next to mom) that I have ever had. You’re the best hype woman anyone could ask for. I remember all those times in high school, college, and beyond when you have cheered me on the loudest. I can never doubt myself when you are around. In fact, your bigging up your loved ones is one of the things that has given me assurance in this life that no matter what, I can never fail nor lose. The way you genuinely celebrate and positively affirm us is quite contagious. I’ve learned to do same watching you and mom. In fact, the ways you remind me of her, makes me know we’re truly family. Even though we live in different countries now, you always find a way to support my different endeavors. You have supported me in every event I have done so far and I can’t begin to describe just how much it means to me.

Your work ethic is truly remarkable. Right from high school, you were always working hard and hustling. You didn’t stop in college. I honestly don’t know how you juggled school work and a demanding job. Side note: I’m not sure I’ve thanked you properly for all the French toast sticks and chicken wings hook ups during our college days. Guuurrrrlll, I would have starved in college if it weren’t for you. But back to your work ethic, you truly inspire. You set a goal and work hard to achieve it. I’m so proud of your journey to becoming one of the best flight attendants out there from small flights to major flights in such a short time. You have never been complacent. You keep upping the ante and you will reach the highest heights and even go beyond them.

As if working for a major airline isn’t taxing enough, you run a small business that is thriving. One of the things I admire most about your work on Cuisine de Sandrine is how you have built it from the ground up brick by brick and steadily gained the trust of your clients. Even when the going got tough, you restrategized and came back even stronger. I learned from your business ordering practices and have applied them to my own. I also love that through the business, you have introduced folks in the DMV area to authentic Ivorian food and entrenched an appreciation for it. And that’s another thing I love about you.

You have always stayed rooted and connected to your culture in spite of spending the bulk of your years in the US. You rock being Nzema and Ivorian with such pride. You learned Nzema while growing up in the US. It takes one truly invested in sustaining culture to do that. And I also love that we can switch to French when we need to gist in front of people hehehe.

One of the biggest ways we bonded was our love for kids especially babies. I thought I was baby crazy until I met you. You really love little munchkins and it’s heartwarming to see how every kid takes a liking to you. You know they say kids know good spirits. If no one has sufficiently thanked you for the thousands of hours over the course of your life that you have devoted to caring for other people’s kids without compensation, I would like to do so on their collective behalf. One day, I know you will be the best mom to my niece(s) and/or nephew(s).

I also love that your life is art in motion from your fashion sense to your love for the performing arts. I remember your performances from high school through college. And you are always down for a good time. You remind us all that life is way too short to live it boring and full of regrets. You dare us to live it up and leave it all here before we are called to join our maker one day in the far future. Thank you for helping me come out of my shell to be a bit daring. And on the fashion, I appreciate how you constantly bless my closet anytime you visit. You help keep me fly and I am forever grateful.

Boo, you are always so considerate and thoughtful. I really appreciate you for always remembering the seemingly small details. I also love how you helped me become more open minded and less judgemental as a person. You never needed to call me out on judgmental ways  but modelled this trait very well to influence me. You accept folks as they are and never need anyone to fit any mold to love them.

You truly are a blessing and a gem in so many ways. Like I said, if I say it all, this won’t ever end. In this added year and beyond, I pray that God answers every desire of your heart and that God does it in the grandest of ways. May you be elevated and celebrated beyond your wildest imagination. May people mention you in the big rooms for incredible opportunities without you lobbying for them. May you continue being a shining star. You are one of the people who make this world good and I know your legacy will be etched in stone one day.

Happy happy birthday Boo! You deserve every single good thing! Cheers to one of the best daughters, sisters, cousins, lovers, friends, and professionals to bless this world with your presence 🥂🥂🥂

I love you so much!

~ Amazing