An Ode to EJ (in list form) Part One

So somebody complained that I made it through TWO WHOLE BLOG ENTRIES without mentioning her.  I’ve also decided that I like lists (expect more of them.)  So to make up for my negligence towards my dear friend Erica, and to kick-off the list-making, I present: An Ode to EJ (in list form) Part One. 

Three Reasons* Erica is Awesome:

1.)  She is Superwoman.

No really.  You think that superwoman is just a metaphor, but I’m really beginning to think she has super powers.  I’m sure I’m leaving plenty out, but here’s some of what Erica does on a regular basis: Works full-time, works out, maintains an immaculately clean condo, serves as a trustee for our alma mater, organizes events for work, volunteers for several charities, organizes events for charities, visits her parents very regularly, hosts lovely celebrations/get-togethers/parties at her place, maintains an active social life, reads, keeps up on current events, goes to her friends’ concerts/art openings/events, manages her money better than I could ever hope to manage mine, takes (and edits and posts online) pictures which all of her friends can enjoy, has fun, is awesome.

Seriously.  All that, and then some.  And she does it with a smile.  If I tried to take on half of all that, I’d probably have a nervous breakdown.  She’s superwoman, I’m telling you.

2.)  Her Sunny Disposition

You would think, given all that superwoman stuff above, that she might be perhaps a bit on the uptight/constantly stressed/overly serious side, right?  Completely the opposite.  The lovely EJ, in fact, pretty much RADIATES good cheer.  It’s almost sickening.  But seriously – she smiles, she laughs, she cheers you up.  She always has a great attitude.  She works her butt off, she knows and cares about the terrible things that happen in this world (see aforementioned charity work and point three below), but she doesn’t let the stress or depressing-ness get to her.  She just keeps right on trucking with that positive attitude of hers.  AWESOME.

3.)  She Cares

So you’re thinking “All that?  She must have some fault!  I bet she’s selfish or cold or something.”  Well think again bucko!  Because Erica is one of the most genuinely caring, kind, unselfish people I have ever met.  Remember all that charity work I talked about?  She does it because she cares about all those organizations and causes she works with.  For instance, when I go on rants about immigration issues, she listens (and joins the Junior Leadership Council of my organization…) because she cares.  She is amazingly supportive and caring towards her friends – she always finds time to go listen to friend's band, or visit someone she hasn’t seen in a while, or encourage a friend who’s feeling down.  She cares about the environment – this is a woman who taught me to shut off the water in the shower when I shaved my legs to save water.  She cares about her family – just see her, just once, in a room with her parents, and you’ll get it.  And she doesn’t flaunt it or make a big deal of it (that’s my job.)  She’s just a truly kind, caring, generous person, and it shows in everything she does.

BONUS: She makes a mean spinach and butternut squash risotto.  Seriously, that stuff is DELICIOUS.

*These are not by any means the only three, or even necessarily the top three, reasons that Erica is awesome.  They’re just the ones I feel like talking about right now.