You are just a few months younger than me
43, a great age to be!
You have lived a life so full
Experience is wisdom, and you're nobody's fool
A life that has not been without stress
Has made you turn out to be the Very Best!
Best of friends, so loving and so kind
Witty, caring and generous with your time
When I need you, you are there to lean on
Giving hope for each brand new dawn
We can share, we care, we're there in despair
We bear, we dare, and we're not ashamed to say a prayer

Yours joys are your writing and your son Ben
You like to make siggies and then ....
There is your baby, The Wonderful Lavendar Mist
For which we are grateful, that you persist
In working so hard, making everything right
You care for your writers and long through the night
The Mist in on your mind, a vehicle for us
The site we do find, is a valuable trust
Where our works we display, to come what may,
Honour or not, comments are precious
We learn or dismiss, no matter they refresh us
And we gain a truly valuable insight
Into our own works or what others may write.

Your friends are important, Ben, Sharon and Michelle,
To name but a few
You are important to us, and for your friendship,
your hard work and caring,
we give you A BIG THANK YOU.

Thank You for The Mist and Community too,
Most of all thank you for just being you!

Mary A. Shovlin 24th January 2004, on the occasion of Karen's 43rd birthday, 30th January, 2004