Being 11 months apart, I don't know a life without Chris, aka Jabs. Growing up colloquially known as "the Baker Boys", our parents would set us loose in Braeburn where we had to stay within "hollering distance" and be back "before the street lights came on". Fueled by red kool-aid and spaghetti, we were as inseparable then as we are now. Jabs has been fiercely loyal, an intellectual companion, and a person I have learned so much about life from and I count myself as blessed to have him as my brother. I must say it could have been perfect if I didn't have to carry him in our co-op video games or have to show him the ropes every single time we get on the grill. I will forever trust his level-headed evaluation of any situation, be it literature, philosophy, or life and, luckily for Rena, I will continue to lean on him.

We grew up in Braeburn Circle together and met either in the neighborhood playing sports or in elementary school (who can be expected to remember history that ancient?), starting as rivals but becoming close friends soon after. Vic is one of the kindest, most genuine people you will ever meet, which works well for him except for when I have to show him a thing or two at the gym. Vic has always been a wonderful person to share my thoughts and ideas with, offering pragmatic and humanizing insights, often while doing workouts that should probably be categorized as abuse. Vic has been a mainstay in my life for the majority of it and I feel extremely fortunate to have had him by my side.

Ryan and I went to the same high school but did not become buddies until college. We became friends over pick-up basketball, our love of sports, and our willingness to discuss (debate?) a variety of points, no matter how inconsequential. We may never see eye-to-eye on LeBron's legacy or who the best comic hero is (I am right on both accounts) but I certainly enjoy the depth of discussion and the intellectual rigor it provides as it keeps me sharp. Ryan's discerning eye and keen thoughts about a variety of topics have made for a great number of excellent talks that have helped shape my views.

Jay and I met in our 9th grade algebra class as Jay would not stop talking to the people around him and got moved next to me. As to be expected, he ended up chatting with me about the new Terminator movie and not long after we got split up for not paying attention in class. Since then, we have been on numerous (mis)adventures and most people think we probably still need be split up from time-to-time since every time we get together, something memorable is gonna happen. Jay has been one of my most steadfast and faithful friends whose charisma, intellect, and sense of humor has truly made my life better.

I originally met Marco in middle school as we would both play basketball together at the Nike court and we reunited towards the end of high school. Marco is one of the best natured people you'll ever meet and is always down for a good time, many of which we've had over the years. I would be remiss if I didn't say that Marco has been my favorite student when it comes to cooking and BBQ, where it would be nice to say I've learned as much from him and he's learned from me, but it just wouldn't be true. I have always admired Marco's humility and social IQ, being able to get along with any group of people and any time, no matter the circumstance. This has made Marco a calming and leveling influence on my life, one which has been truly appreciated.

Eli was initially just a friend of Luke's that served as a fantasy football fill-in and he never left. Eventually, I moved to Austin and once I found out Eli lived there, our friendship blossomed. It started mostly around golfing as a pretext for day drinking, Archer quotes, and football and since deepened, due in part to our predilection towards fun, no matter the cost, even if that means watching a Broncos-Colts game that ended up 9-6 after overtime. It has been be a great bonus that our partners have become friends. Eli is just at home dropping a witty quip as he is a thought provoking observation which has made him feel like a friend that I have had my whole life, even if his taste in bourbon (Old Tub) could seriously use some work.

As 1/3 of both the Spicy Boys and the Street Sharkz, Thompson was truly my co-conspirator as a teacher. We never missed an opportunity for a costume, joint-lesson, or general tom-foolery, probably much to the chagrin of the students we taught. I would advise you to be careful asking us about it, as you may end up in a "blackhole", where we share hyper-contextual stories, movie quotes, and memories that almost exclusively act to entertain Thompson and I. Thompson was not only essential to my development as a teacher and person, his loyalty, sense of humor, and willingness to engage in a good time has made him a dear friend of mine.

Phuong and I met in middle school through my brother and their mutual love of Halo. A master of the self-given nickname, most prominently "big beefy", Phuong is one of the most charismatic and loyal people I know. We grew up playing sports, video games, and eating challenges together, which he made even more fun through his sense of humor. Phuong invited us to his wedding in Vietnam and gave us a wonderful tour of the southern area of the country, which was truly unforgettable. I will always appreciate Big Beefy and the effect he's had on my life.

Asciutto made up 1/3 of the Spicy Boys and we met as fellow first year teachers but became great friends as roommates in Charlotte, NC. Somewhat ironically, we bonded over our heated Broncos-Raiders rivalry, testy N64 Blitz games, and our weekly trips to Pollo Campero. Although it seems contradictory with him being a Raiders fan, I truly appreciate our intellectual, high-minded conversations and the impact it's had on my thinking. One of my favorite memories is the discussions we had when we went on the "Tour-de-South", a looping road trip through the South, and the jokes, musings, and discussions about the past and future of the US was truly valued and still stimulates my thought today.

I first met Eric when we were looking for more people to play backyard football in high school and he has since become a staple in my life. There is rarely an adventure that Eric is adverse to, whether that was travel, a night on the town, or standing with me in making the (regrettable) argument that Tony Yayo's debut album was quality music. I have grown and learned a lot in virtue of having Eric in my life and am grateful for our chance high school encounter. The many discussions I have had with Eric have broadened my horizons and worldview, whether it be about something as trivial as video games or as profound as the America's current political situation, all of which are always punctuated by his witty sense of humor. Eric has been one of my dearest friends, even if we have to pretend I didn't show him a thing or two on the football field back in the day.

Christian and I met as employees at Circuit City and immediately bonded over NBA basketball, video games, and rap. While we disagree on which players are the ones you want to start a good team, Christian prefers giant plodding gumps, I respect his knowledge of the game and his approach to life. Christian is a well of wisdom and I have been privileged to learn a lot from him, even if we'll never agree about the role of the big man in the NBA today. Christian's exceptional ability to listen and his worldly guidance, not to mention his consistent reaching out, has made him a lodestar in my life.

We met in high school while riding the 5 bus from downtown Ann Arbor to our respective houses. We became real friends over our passion for Madden and the endless patience for adjusting the depth chart before our matchups. Luke is one of the highest character guys I know and if you need any evidence, look no further than his (troubling) devotion to the NY Jets. Luke's generosity with his friends has no limits, whether it be using his extra ticket to the legendary 2005 Penn State-Michigan game, fronting the cost for a Naples trip, or always being available to help when needed. I am lucky to have been able to count Luke as a dear friend.

My darling oldest sister. With a 6 year age gap she was almost like a mini-momma to me growing up. Loving, protective and the best big sister a little girl could ever wish for. One of my core memories is when we accidentally found a centipede when cleaning an old shed, and I was too paralyzed with fear to walk out. Even though she was scared herself, she ran in and scooped me up (as I was hysterically sobbing), and carried me out to safety. She has been my hero ever since. Little did I know our relationship would only blossom as adults. We are so alike, and that makes for fun times whenever we are together! South Dakota, Toronto, London, Paris - it's always a great time when we are together.

My older (middle) sister. When I was born, she was disappointed I was not a boy at first, but then she met me and obviously has been OBSESSED with me since. Even though she tortured and teased me when we were little, we have always had an amazing relationship. She always had the best and most fun ideas for games when we were children, and she was definitely the cool kid that I always wanted to play with. Now, obviously the tables have turned and I am decidedly the cool one, but the fun continues! Our relationship has only grown stronger, and I am so lucky to have her as a big sister.

My dear friend Koko... what can I say? She is hilariously funny, generous, gentle, intuitive and empathetic. One of my most cherished friends. Our friendship was forged during some of our most difficult moments. I will never forget her dragging me around Sioux Falls, finding activities for us that she probably did not want to do, but she somehow knew that I needed. Never judgmental and always kind. She is imprinted on my soul. I am lucky to call her my friend, and my bridesmaid.

My Alisha - a FANTASTIC human being. She had no idea at first, but I just knew from the moment we met, that we were destined to be great friends. Fun, loving and pure-hearted - we bonded based on our strikingly similar values and life experiences, and she has been nothing short of a blessing in my life ever since. We have a such sisterly love for each other. What a blissful experience it is, when you are lucky enough to bask in the warm glow of her friendship.

My darling Binnie! She is hilarious, quirky, and cool without even trying. Somehow, even though life and work has placed us far apart, we have always found a way to make time for each other. I cherish every moment we have had together. I love making plans that we immediately abort after one glass of wine (lol). I love dozing off on the couch watching romcoms that we have seen 100 times. I love our inside jokes and belly laughs - and most of all, I just love her! She is truly a kindred spirit.