Michelle Hindman - Maid of Honor

The first day I met Michelle we moved large, heavy pieces of metal furniture around the basement of the Arizona House of Representatives in our suits and high heels because our offices weren't set up for us.  If only our real jobs were as easy!

And while having Michelle as a friend at the office was definitely nice, it was her friendship outside of the office I quickly came to cherish.  When I first began full-time at the House, I didn't know many people in Phoenix.  Michelle went out of her way to invite me to dinner and other activities, which got me out of the house and out having fun.  It's also because of Michelle that I first joined a gym and now try to exercise regularly.  Though she'll probably always be faster and in better shape than me, she's my inspiration.

We both tried to train for our first full marathon together, neither of us having run one before and me never really having run at all. Unfortunately, she rolled her ankle early on and then I ended up bailing out from a bad "shin splint" I'm sure was a hairline fracture.  Despite the fact I managed to make it up to a 16 mile long run, and thus know I am perfectly capable, I've made up a lot of excuses to avoid running again.  It was hard to admit defeat.  Meanwhile, despite the ankle, a bad knee, and other set backs, Michelle's kept pushing on, never giving up.  She's my rock.  And her commitment, and maybe a little jealousy on my part, has got me back on track and currently running for 30 minute stretches (approximately 3 miles) without a break.

Michelle's dedication extends far beyond running though.  It shows in all aspects of her life - her work, her relationships, and her (many) other hobbies.  Michelle is one of the hardest-working people I know.  Not only that, she's one of the best too.  Even with deadlines looming and a workload usually larger than mine, she was always willing to to answer a question, give me advice, or even lend her help if needed.  She knows just the right thing to say to get you motivated and back on track.

The best thing about Michelle though is she's so easy to talk to.  Those of you who know me well know I'm actually not much of a talker, especially if it's about my feelings.  But Michelle can get me to spill just about anything.  She's helped me be a better communicator in general, and, more importantly, in my other relationships.  I still have a long way to go, but she's set me on the right path and for that I will be forever grateful.

I miss her terribly and doubt I'll ever find such a great co-worker and best friend all wrapped up in the same package.