Stories About Kristin

There are stories I could tell having spent more than a few long weekends with Kristin. But as I thought about what clever or funny thing I could say about her, it became clear that my true appreciation for her lay not in the places or things. Kristin has a talent for sharing her vast knowledge and experience in a way that makes you feel included: accepted and invited into spaces (psychologically and otherwise) that you didn’t even know you could care about. When she talks, I always want to listen. And I almost always learn something. If it isn’t always obvious at first, you soon come to know how strong she is. Yes.. very smart.. very strong.. and very gentle. Kristin, may you have many more healthy and happy birthdays. Here’s to you, Love. P.S. I’ve blacked out only three times in my life and Kristin was there for all of them. So… there’s also that. Haha!

Hey Kristin, happy 50th! You’re one of the kindest and most genuine people I know, and I feel so lucky to have met you! I’ll always treasure our Napa trip—amazing wine, yummy food, great laughs, and your wonderful stories. Thank you for planning such a wonderful trip for us. The details and care with which the trip was planned is reflective of who you are a a person - thoughtful, considerate and full of fun facts! You make everyone around you feel at ease and your energy is infectious. Your ability to always see the best in people is inspiring and you make the world a better place. Wishing you all the happiness you truly deserve—may all your dreams come true and the years ahead be filled with joy and adventure. Cheers to you!

I waited until the last minute to write this. Something we have in common, waiting til the last min. You tho….You. Get. Shit. Done. I’m so uber impressed by you. Super smart. Super funny. Super compassionate. I don’t remember when we met, maybe Beer Olympics?. If that was it, in the madness.. you were amazing from the get! As time went on…you kept impressing…a welding class, out of nowhere…building a nacho stadium for a chili cook off…can you say EXTRA??! There are too many stories to tell since we met…and a lot of those stories are too inappropriate to write. What I can write is how much I love you. How I have cherished the times when we laughed so hard…K and I fell off the couch. How you’ve been the hostess with the mostest EVERY time. How you helped us buy a house. How you’ve kept in touch to make sure we continue to make the most outta our home. How you are always the most loving, most laughing and maybe just, the most….. I am always in awe Aires……traveling over seas, killing it at life, and always being there for those that don’t need you…..but those always love it when you ARE there. Happy 50th friend of mine. I wish you allllllllllll the best and I can’t wait to make more stories….stories that I may or may not be able to share……

Kristin, There simply are not the right words in the English language to describe or clearly articulate just how much you mean to me but this is my attempt to do just that. One of the things I so admire about you is your ability to get things done, little things, big things, things that matter and things that don’t. I have watched you take on ridiculous things where there was absolutely NO WAY to pull it off in the amount of time you allotted for it and yet, you do, seeming to slide into some sort of freaky time warp thing where a 6-month project gets done in a few weeks. Because of you, I want to dig deeper to accomplish big things, little things, things that matter and things that don’t. In all of our adventures both overseas and domestic, I have admired the way you fight through pain, without others around you even being aware of your struggles. You went into our very first Race2Adventure trip to Ireland with a bum ankle. You had it taped up and said you were fine. You ran 50 yards maybe, of that first race and that was it. You spent the rest of that trip bandaged and taped up, hobbling around, taking pictures, videos and having the best time! Then there was Italy. Right out of the gates, while on our first race up the Dolomites your allergies kicked in and never stopped. The allergy medication was quickly spent, yours and mine. Multiple trips to the pharmacias, resulted in little relief. I think you also broke your tooth on this trip and were in dire pain towards the end, but no one was amy wiser. On the Scotland trip, again on the first day of our visit, you thought you were cool and jumped off our little red tour bus and pretty much blew out your knee! And yet, in true Kristin form you kept the wheels on the bus going round and round and actually ran most of the races that trip, in spite of a knee that kept giving out. Then there was the trip of all trips with a 20-mile hike in and out of the Grand Canyon , with a 40lb pack. You managed to catch some horrific lung/chest cold. You blamed allergies and dust from your garage. I blamed that moldy air conditioner in the first hotel. Either way, you were in rough shape, the whole trip. We knew you were miserable but you never complained. That last morning, at 3am, you put the pack on and we hiked our asses out of that canyon, one step at a time. I was so proud of you and beyond impressed. Because of you I want to be less of a pussy, fight through the pain 😊 and not have a shit attitude because of it. There are so many other stories, things to share, things I want you to know. Because of you, I have traveled the world and never thought I would do any of those things. When you had COVID and were trying to leave me to travel to Italy on my own, I about lost my eve- loving mind!! The thought of traveling without you, my travel partner, my security blanket, caused pure panic in every cell of my body. Luckily that dread brought out my best problem-solving abilities and I convinced you to NOT cancel, give COVID a chance to clear up and we managed to be on a plane a few days later, Italy bound!!! Of course by the time we were heading home I had COVID. You swaddled me in your blankets and hand warmers, trying to make me as comfortable as possible on that cold cement airport floor. Again, the best travel companion ever! Then there are your number massaging, financial jedi math tricking magic ways that resulted in me being able to buy a home. Because of you I own a home. Without your help, reassurance and finagling I wouldn’t have been able to do that. As an adult I seriously did not want to ever own a home but in time, I realized that adulting may be a good thing and you were a huge part of that. Finally, I admire how you show up for your friends, family and the people you love; there seems to be no end to your giving, tireless nature and the love you have to share. I watched this so beautifully and heartbreakingly demonstrated as you helped Dan in his dying process. Dan wasn’t ready to go, was sick, no energy and yet you knew the end was near. Your love, compassion and empathy for Dan’s situation had to strike a balance with the fact that he had no plan, no will, no last words and testament, nothing. With little time to truly spare, you helped him get those things in place, as painful as that was, and then planned and orchestrated his memorial in Page. I have seen you do this in other ways, with other friends, having to balance compassion with tough love, because you love, because you care, because you are willing to give all of what you have to help someone when they have NOTHING left in them. Because of you I want to show up in bigger and better ways for the people I love. I want you to know that I love you so, so much and am so grateful for your friendship, how you have included my nephew in your and Karin’s life, and how you have been there for me through losses and gains, grieving and celebrating all along the way. You are evidence that strength and softness do co-exist, that grit and grace are not opposites and that love, real love, shows up in ACTIONS not just words. I hope the next 50 years brings you the same care, loyalty, adventure and love that you so freely give to everyone else. You deserve every bit of it. Thank you for being my financer, my travel partner, my friend and know that because of you I have laughed harder, traveled farther, lived larger and loved longer. Happy 50th Birthday my friend. Much love always, Tiffany “Booth”

Kristin is one of those rare people whose presence simply makes life better. She’s selfless, always smiling, and endlessly welcoming—someone who lifts your mood without even trying. You can’t help but wish you could bottle her spirit and carry it with you every day. Speaking of Spirit, she’s always ready for adventure, whether it’s river rapids, ocean waves, bay paddles, or mountain passes on four wheels. That's why she is my go‑to kayak buddy in the family. I’ll always remember her kindness before Lee Anne's and my wedding, when she helped make the front of the house look picture perfect. It was a small 'landscaping' moment that showed her big heart.

I don’t even know where to start, Kristin. I have so many stories and memories — some spicy, some sad, many a little blurry. One of the things we discovered early on, and bonded over, was the fact that we both still sleep with binkies. I thought for sure I was the only adult who still slept with their baby blanket, but no! In that blanket bond, I found one of my tribe and a friend who brings me as much warmth and comfort as my favorite 50-year old blanket. You were the first person to arrive after Trent died, and you guided me through my very worst moment with such calm and care. Your presence made the room stop spinning. Having been with your grandmother when she passed, you knew how to guide me through it so I could hold his hand and say goodbye, even though I was terrified. You have a way of bringing order and calm to chaos — even as you sometimes create a little chaos yourself with your big dreams, courageous spirit and creativity. To not end on a sad note, I also have to mention some of our more adventurous moments: Amsterdam for my (40th?) birthday, where we saw children in blackface, ate out of dog bowls, smoked cigarettes in the men’s room and visited all the coffee shops. Aruba, where we paid $50 for a 12-pack of beer, your ex lost all the money at the casino and we bought other stuff that turned out to be the worst stuff we’d ever had. Flagstaff, where we slept in a cave with Trenton. San Diego (many times!) to play at the beach with Jaime, have clam bakes and watch live doggie porn. Hawaii, where a giant wave nearly took us down and we made friends with the flight crew. Here’s to many more great adventures. Happy 50th!!! I love you, Kristin!!

On a fateful winter evening in 2007, I went to a party where I was most definitely a fish out of water. Lots of people I didn’t know and only a handful I’d only met once or twice. Feeling awkward and a little overwhelmed, I stepped outside looking for somewhere to sit and get my bearings. I ended up sitting next to Ms. Kristin Aires, who happened to be lighting up a little tokey-toke. We started talking about music and our mutual love of the Pixies, exchanged numbers, and said we should hang out sometime. At the time, it just felt like a random conversation with a cool chick. But looking back now, that moment changed my life. Kristin, somewhere between that night and almost 20 years since, you became one of the most important people in my world. We’ve volunteered together trying to make a difference in local politics, supported each other through divorces, survived the Rona pandemic, worked together, and watched our pups slowly turn into old ladies. You’ve been my confidant, therapist, mentor, reality check, partner in crime, chaos-coordinator, and the person who can make me laugh even when I’m convinced my life is falling apart. I’ll never forget that time you fed me breakfast when I was in the ICU because IV’s in both arms meant I couldn’t feed myself. Through it all, you’ve been there with wisdom, honesty, humor, and a perspective that makes this crazy world feel a little more manageable. You are wise, resilient, and hilarious, and you help me laugh harder, think deeper, and show up as a better person. Happy 50th, Aires! I’m beyond grateful for that random winter night in 2007 put you in my life. Love you tons, my soul sister.

Kristin, From the moment I met you, when I did some ridiculous power cheer at the restaurant to try to cheer you up, I’m pretty sure you thought I was completely insane. Honestly, I suspect part of you still believes that to be true today, and I respect that. What I’m most grateful for is that you kept showing up anyway. Over the years, we’ve shared so many adventures, transitions, road trips, spa days, New York trips, life chapters, and journeys of all kinds, sometimes fully on this planet and sometimes maybe a little beyond it. Through all of it, you have been one of the most steady, loyal, loving, hilarious, and deeply intelligent humans in my life. You’ve walked alongside me through so many seasons, and you’ve allowed me to walk alongside you too. At one point, you even lived with us, which honestly feels like proof of both your generosity and your resilience. You have been there not just for me, but for my family in ways that are impossible to fully measure. The love and support you’ve given Luke is one of the deepest expressions of unconditional love I’ve ever witnessed. It’s unwavering. It’s generous. It’s no questions asked. You just show up. Again and again. The kind of auntie you have been to my boys is something I will never stop being grateful for. That is who you are. You are hardworking as hell, wildly funny, serious when it matters, and somehow able to fix almost anything. It may take an extra few hours, and there may be some very deserved commentary along the way, but you always figure that shit out. You are one of those rare people who is both incredibly capable and incredibly caring. And one of the things I love most about you is your capacity to hold space. I can tell you anything. Even when I hold back at first because I don’t want to burden you, I always seem to get there eventually, because you are safe. You listen with curiosity, with perspective, with honesty, and with so much heart. Your love is unconditional in a way that is rare and real. You also have this brilliant mind that is constantly surprising me. You know the most random, fascinating facts about things most people would never even think to learn, and somehow that feels very connected to who you are. You are curious about life. You are nourishing to be around. You are someone who keeps expanding, keeps learning, keeps softening, and keeps seeing more. And in the last 24 hours, somehow, you blew my mind again. The way you talked about turning 50, not as some ending or marker of getting older, but as the beginning of life, like you get to take everything you’ve learned and start again with all that wisdom, almost like being a toddler but with consciousness and perspective, was one of the most beautiful things I’ve heard in a long time. It is such a Kristin way of seeing the world: wise, unexpected, expansive, grounded, and full of possibility. You have impacted my life in so many incredible ways over these last few years. With your loyalty. Your kindness. Your humor. Your intelligence. Your curiosity. Your perspective. Your ability to be there when my heart is shattered and also when I’m being absurdly silly. You have loved me through all of it. And that kind of love changes people. So on your 50th birthday, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for the laughter, the truth, the support, the adventures, the deep conversations, the off-planet journeys, the family love, the practical help, the emotional steadiness, and the million ways you’ve shown up without needing applause for any of it. Happy 50th, Kristin. Thanks for being the kind of friend who can handle deep feelings, random adventures, family chaos, planetary and off-planetary journeys, and my power-cheer level insanity. I love you, and I am so grateful I get to celebrate you. With deep Love and appreciation, Your favorite red headed cheerleader,

Happy Birthday Kristin! You are a warm and generous soul ♥️ with a glint of mischief in your sparkling eyes 🍀 Appropriate for a lovely lass born on March 17! Your sense of fun and adventure is contagious. When we visited you in AZ, you drove us into the mountains, kayaked the river and scoped out a chill winery to relax and unwind, all with a huge smile on your face. You have a talent for putting people at ease and making people feel welcome. Your compassion and understanding are a true virtue. The truth is you’re a sweetheart AND a badass!!!! All the best to you on your birthday and always. Kick that Big 5-0 and enjoy! With Love, Lee Anne

One of the best things about my brother Todd, is that he has incredible, fun loving and loyal friends. Friends over many decades that are always there in good times and bad. One of whom is Kristin. I don’t specifically remember the first time we met but I know I had a great time with her and she’s always treated me like family. We’ve had blasts at pub crawls, costume parties, holiday parties etc. However the thing I am most grateful for, is how much she supported me in getting my first home. I’m happy and devoted with my job and independence. Although that definitely affected any chance in buying property. Kristin of course made it work and found me a realtor that I felt like we’ve known each other forever. Every single thing to get me to leave California and make Arizona my home eerily fell into place. One by one. I now have a home that I can afford and love everything about it. That wouldn’t have happened without Kristin and all the wonderful people in her life. She surrounds herself in love and laughter and I’m grateful that I get to enjoy and appreciate it. Thank you for being you! Happy Birthday!