HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIS! BON ANNIVERSAIRE!
Folks, today’s post is dedicated to one of my very best friends: Maris!
Maris and I were both born in Saudi Arabia and we grew up together on the Aramco compound of Dhahran. In 9th grade we sat next to each other in English class and the rest is history. She has been my nearest and dearest ever since. We had so much in common from the moment we met, we both loved to read and cook and ride horses, and thankfully we both had a really goofy sense of humor.
Me and Maris all dressed up for our 9th grade graduation ceremony.
After 9th grade most expat kids leave Saudi Arabia and go off to boarding school in the US, which Maris and I both did, her in Michigan and me in Massachusetts, but while she stayed in the states throughout high school, I returned to Saudi Arabia in 11th grade to finish out my last two years of high school in Bahrain. Then for college we were either in different countries of on opposite sides of the same country. All of this means that we would see each other once or twice a year at most, either when we returned to Saudi Arabia to visit our families or when we traveled somewhere to meet up.
During our high school vacations we would meet up in Saudi Arabia and zip around our compound in Maris’ adorable little miata! (Women aren’t allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia except on our compound.)
While at university we met up in France to spend some time skiing in the Alps. As you can tell from my giant yawn, I never really got into skiing.
Despite the constant distance, over the past 13 years Maris has been the best friend I could imagine. She is smart AND funny AND sweet AND talented at everything she does! She makes me laugh, she makes me think, and she makes me feel loved. Whenever I’m having a bady day or going through a rough patch she will listen for as long as I need to talk, and then her suggestions are so thoughtful and kind that I feel better just hearing her say them. All of you out there lucky enough to have such a good friend will know what I mean: they are just shining stars in your life and no matter how many days, weeks, months, years pass between visits, just the thought of that person will make your heart glow and put a smile on your face. I wish I could explain how much her friendship has meant to me over the years. All I can say is that she is really the epitome of what a good friend is. Maris is a truly genuine, amazing person and I am SO lucky to know her!
This is us at the Alamo in San Antonio. Maris came down to spend my birthday with me that year!
Then Maris came to visit me in Bahrain! This is us at the 15th century Portuguese fort in Manama, Bahrain.
This was Maris’ last night in Bahrain!
Maris studied French in university, speaks the language fluently, lived in France and adores all things French so I just had to make her a French birthday treat. That is how I decided to make beignets. (She is also an immensely talented professional baker and cake designer so I decided to leave the cake making to her!)
The beignets were delicious, obviously, they are fried balls of dough covered in powdered sugar, but the texture wasn’t light and crispy enough for me. So, I’ll work on the recipe and then share it.
Now, Maris, I need you to come visit so we can celebrate your birthday in style. I miss you!
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Oh how lovely! I have several friends who sound just like that and yes, they truly are treasures! I always feel sorry for people who don't know that such amazing friends exist-they truly don't know what they are missing!
-K
Happy Birthday Maris.
Aww, Happy Birthday Maris! I'm lucky enough to have a couple of friends like that – after surviving our school years being the poor, 'weird' ones at our exclusive private school everything afterwards was a cinch! Two girls I can speak to after a year's abscence and pick up right where we left off! Everyone should have at least one friend like this and I'm glad someone as nice as you does! Deep fried sweet dough balls? I'm there!
What a lovely tribute to your friendship! I can't wait to see this at home–my office network blocks your photos. Bah! Good luck tinkering with the recipe: fried dough can never be wrong.
What a nice tribute to your friend! Happy Birthday Maris!
HAVE A HIP HAP HAPPY BARFDAY
MS. MARIS!!!
You are so lucky to have such a good friend. They don't come around very often- believe me I have been looking for a long time!
great times with great friends are priceless arent they
Yum! I love beignets! I've always thought about making them. It is refreshing to read that you tried it but they didn't come out how you wanted so they are now a work in progress! Thank goodness for posts that speak to the reality of making food and the love that fuels it! I think I may have to borrow this Birthday Post idea. Love it!
Aw! Good, life-long friends are the best. Happy Birthday, Maris!
And those beignets look ah-maze-ing!
happybirthdayfaces for Maris! yay! so awesome to have such a wonderful friend– i love that you two have stuck together through all the years. you guys make such a great team – and it looks like you have the best of times, fo ‘sho! beignets sound like a tasty way to celebrate her birthday! i hope you ladies get to catch up & celebrate together soon!
That's so sweet! You are lucky to have such a good friend!
-A
That is true friendship, you are very lucky.
It's been so long since I've had beignets, yours look scrumptious!
Oh my gosh, Tasha!! I can't believe how sweet this is! Thank you so much for this wonderful birthday present! I couldn't have asked for anything better. Oh, wait, yes, I can: You here in DC making me beignets! Why the hell couldn't you make that happen, huh?
Seriously though, I can't say enough about you and our friendship and how much it means to me. This is so awesome!
And thank you to all fellow Voracious followers for the lovely birthday wishes!!
What a beautiful tribute to Maris! Happy bday Maris! And here's to wonderful friendships…may we all appreciate them as fully as you do!
Those beignets look so amazingly awesome…
Thanks everyone! I will definitely post the beignet recipe as soon as I've got it where I want it.
Hi Maris! Glad you liked your birthday post. Now get over here and visit me!
i think you might like greenerfolks.com
You're lucky to have such an awesome friend!
The beignets look good, I'd eat one right now if I could!
You're so lucky to have a friend like Maris and she's lucky to have you!. I still have a friend I met in 9th grade (and that was a REALLY long time ago). We did a video chat last night, and we always end by lamenting that we live across the country from each other.
What a touching post. What would we do without best friends? Love especially the pic of you guys driving- I had no idea women couldn't drive in Saudi Arabia.
Beignets are an old favorite. I think the best in the world are served at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans, but then, they def aren't vegan.
Those beignets look awesome!
The beignets look awesome. It's wonderful to have a friend who's so close and dear. Love the pictures!
You've had such an interesting life! It's great to have a long distance friend you can travel and stay with. Happy birthday Maris!
Great post, and a nice birthday message for your friend! I love beignets, though you're right that they're not exactly light. It's tough to say no to fried dough and sugar
What a lovely tribute and celebration of friendship.
Happy Birthday Maris! What a beautiful post!
And haha, I love the skiing photo!!
[...] holiday. He is looking forward to visiting all of DC’s amazing museums, visiting with our oldest and dearest friend Maris who calls DC her home, and spending a few days with his parents who are going to fly up from Texas [...]
[...] a break in the hotel for a bit, I next headed out to meet up with some old friends of ours. Maris and Tasha have been friends for years. Maris actually came to visit us in San Antonio when we lived there (just after we went vegan [...]