Celebrating Taylor Swift and the Friends Who Stay
By Kimberly Knowle-Zeller | June 2025 Newsletter
The Taylor Swift party for my daughter Charlotte's 10th birthday brought her dreams to life. The decorations and party favors were bought weeks in advance. She picked out the brightest colored plates, a sequined disco ball piñata, and red and pink lipstick pens for party favors. Written in her neatest handwriting in journals and pads of lined paper, she wrote list after list of who she was inviting, what food we’d buy, and the games we’d play. Stars, rainbows, and hearts dotted each page.
For weeks, Taylor Swift and the birthday party were all that were on her mind. Together with her grandmother and myself we walked the aisles searching for friendship bracelet supplies. We baked chocolate chip cookies for dessert. The invite list included friends of all ages—from the neighbors down the street, to her reading teacher, and friends who’ve known her since birth.
On the party day, sheer joy and energy radiated from the first moment Charlotte woke up. “Can we decorate now,” she asked, already dressed in her black Taylor Swift inspired shirt: “Hi, it’s me, I’m the birthday girl.” We had the party in our church gym; as soon as guests started to arrive, Charlotte was constantly running and offering quick hugs. She greeted everyone with “thanks for coming” and “have a snack.” We had a whole table’s worth of bright colors, letters, and strings occupying hands throughout the party making friendship bracelets. She opened presents surrounded by friends and books and new earrings; handmade cards and crayon-written words, “You are my friend because you are kind.”
When the clock struck three, most of the friends had left with their parents hyped up on ice cream sundaes and sweaty from playing tag. Little did I know that another gift was to come. My husband and I started picking up garbage and gathering the presents to take home. I grabbed the cherry stained tablecloth to throw in the trash feeling a little sad the party was already over. A few of our friends were picking up plates and gathering discarded plates. Another friend had a broom sweeping up and down the floors. Another friend organized and picked up tiny beads from the bracelet making station while Charlotte and the kids ran outside. The lasting picture from the party is this one: cleaning up with some of our best friends from town.
We didn’t ask them to help or stay later, they simply did. They helped clean up the party and turn the lights off. They packed our car and joined us in being the last ones out of the building.
Isn’t this the dream? To be surrounded by friends who stay and show up, to give thanks for the unexpected gift that comes from sharing my daughter with others.
We celebrated my daughter’s birthday, but it was also a celebration of parenthood. Of giving thanks to the ones who show up, share, and stay.
Love,
Kim
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Small towns are the best (most of the time)! 😉 I love this story, Kim! It sounds like Charlotte had a wonderful birthday!