Happy Birthday to Miriam.

Dad


Backpacking was and is a favorite Medley past time. Mirs got her introduction when she was about 11 years old. I look at trips as a whole -  that is you have a bad one and 3 good ones to make up for it. Unfortunately, the first one we took Mirs on was one of those "bad" ones. I guess none are totally 'bad" but when we hike for 4 or 5 hours in the dark with flashlights and the wind is blowing about 25 miles an hour (all night) and Hannah almost gets blown off the cliff. I think we freaked poor Mirs out! Sorry Miriam - I should have been a bit more sensitive to your tender young self-esteem. I guess after that trip you decided you did not like backpacking and hence wondered how you would ever fit into the Medley's! I'm glad we had a bunch after that that were great - hopefully they made up for that first one... Years went by - too quickly of course -  and Mirs found her self near the end of her senior year of high school with an interesting dilemma. She was an outstanding piano player, but did not have the grades or units to get into college. Hence began her "endless summer" between her high school senior and college freshman year. It was seamless - you started CR before school ended and byu online english ended just as HSU started. I'll never forget going down to the bay area for that Shostakovich or Rachmaninov stuff and hearing you play with some hoity- toity orchestra. My kid! Ya rock mirs. I love how you can always count on Mirs for a deep conversation - she's a thinker. Love ya mirs - you treat your family well - you are a good example -  keep up the good teaching too! love Dad

Mom

My fondest memory of Miriam is how she kept changing in and out of her clothes all day long. She must have changed at least 50 times from the time she woke up to the time she went to bed most of her childhood! She was excessively fashion-conscious. She had to wear certain little dresses with foo-foos and frills (in an athletic way). She had a pair of “tappy shoes” that she wore to school. Mrs. Piland called me and asked if I would please have her wear tennis shoes so that she wouldn’t slip! Tennis shoes were safer! I told Miriam the news and we decided to leave the tappy shoes at home. A few days later, Mrs. Piland called me and said that the tappy shoes were becoming a problem! I told her Miriam had left them at home! She just laughed and said that Miriam would change into them when she got to school (having smuggled them in her backpack). Happy Birthday Miriam!! I feel like you always live your life in your tappy shoes!!!!

Rachel

The first memory I thought of was a recent one, when you and Aaron came to visit and how much fun we had. It is so rare to get one of my siblings completely to myself and I had you for like 5 days! I loved all the conversations we had and all the reminiscing. And getting to hang out with Jade and get to know her too, what a fun time! Love you little sister. You'll always be little MIriam to me!! Love, Rachel

Sarah

Oh Miriam. I have so many memories of you. I want to do something different. I want to tell you all the things I love about you now. You have an innate sense of people. You are someone who can almost always finish my sentences. We have had deep conversations where there are pauses, and we look at each other, and there is electricity in the air. You get me, I get you. I love it. Your becoming a mother is a stage that has been beautiful to behold. You are so gracious in the way you accept and take advice from us, even when I'm sure you're sick of hearing it. You have a mother-bear relationship with Jade and it is so beautiful to see, especially since you were so worried that you would not be the best "baby person". Get real!! You possess more musical talent in your pinky than I possess in my whole brain, and I've always been jealous! Thank you for being an amazing woman, Miriam. I love you with all my heart.

Hannah

Miriam, the fancy little girl with the star shaped glasses, pink dresses, and full of attitude. I have always loved every little thing about you Mirs. From the imaginary lines in the house to the continual need for crutches, what a fantastic person you have always been. Suddenly, before I left on my mission we somehow became very close. Writing back and forth for the time I was gone, we seemed to become even closer, a type of kindred spirits. Thank you for all your fantastic letters while I was out there. Your testimony helped me go and teach everyday. For such a young girl, you had an amazing testimony of the Savior, who you are and where you came from. Your love for your family and for Heavenly Father gave me so much strength. Then to see it full circle was to travel down to San Antonio and see the great work you had done in your time served there. You really did (and continue to) let your light shine. I will forever be thankful for that Miriam. Now, seeing you as a mother is awesome. Little Jade is so lucky to have you and Aaron is one fortunate guy to have you. Now it is a treasured treat each time I get to spend time with you. I love how we can just sit and chat with nothing else planned, it is a blast. You deserve an awesome gift and one day when I am rich and famous, I'll get you that gift. I am so happy we have each other. Love you and Happy Birthday!!

Jared

One day we were at home and Mom and Dad were gone. There was some kind of altercation in the living room in which Miriam became the focal point of some aggressive energy. She went outside, slammed the door behind her which we all thought was the end of the altercation. Just then, the door flew open and the toilet plunger went sailing over our heads and we watched in slow motion as the handle of the plunger impaled Aunt Fran’s family portrait that sat on the piano. Miriam looked petrified. It was hard to tell whether she felt that her anger had been sufficiently released, or she was terrified of what she had actually done. There were probably thoughts going through her head of regret/terror/ psychological dominance over everyone in the room. I don’t remember anything after that, I’m not sure what kind of punishment ensued (if any). What has always stuck with me is my awe of Miriam’s ability to accomplish the seemingly insurmountable. Sometimes I still think about the figurative toilet plunger flying through the air over my head... 

Happy Birthday Miriam!!

Gideon

My best memories of Miriam are from about 6 years ago when I moved to utah. She lived a mile or two away, and we saw her often. I loved driving down and spending time at her apartment or giving her a ride. Miriam was such a good friend to me when I started out on my own. She set me up on a date or two (bad idea when your brother is 18 and clueless) and was always down for a climb at the quarry. Miriam has always been so happy and enthusiastic and encouraging. She always is excited to see you. I have lots of memories too of hanging out with Miriam in high school (also a bad idea when your brother is 14 and clueless) and when she was at HSU. Miriam has always been such a good friend to me. Thanks Miriam, and we love you.

Gideon.

Naomi

There is so much about Miriam that I would love to say. I remember when she was in high school, she asked me what I thought about something. I didn't respond. "Do you think about anything?" "Not really." I have changed since then I assure you. But there is one thing in particular that Miriam and I will always treasure in our hearts. That one summer. Miriam got off her mission around April and two weeks later played the piano for my cello final. That summer was the best summer we had together. I had grown so much since she had left on her mission and I felt like we were the same age. We drove the volvo everywhere, went everywhere together and had a blast. It wasn't until I ran out of money that we even thought about getting jobs. We worked for two and half months and saved up enough to take a trip to Florida to visit Sarah for two weeks. That summer, we headed the Humboldt Branch Relief Society, broke down on the way to Utah, Miriam met Aaron while he was on a date with me, bought way too many hand me down clothes, and we both got awesome tans. That summer allowed Miriam and I to become closer sisters. She knows now that I do "think" and can even articulate what I am thinking. I love you Miriam. Have a very happy birthday. 

Bethany

I remember when we were sharing rooms and she came home one night from college and it was really late. We were both in our beds and the lights were out. We tried to make the funniest noises we could and most of them were fart noises! We stayed up for hours making funny noises!!! This next memory has to do with farts, too, but ya know, we are the Medleys... Me, Miriam and Naomi were staying the night in one of the high schooler rooms and I farted, they laughed and my excuse was it just kind of “wheezed out”! They started busting up laughing and we spent the next half hour coming up with different names for different kinds of farts! I also remember this one night I woke up and had a ear ache. I woke up and the light was on and Miriam had just come home and was working on homework. My ear hurt incredibly bad. Worse than I had ever felt. I couldn’t move my head and I was sitting there crying. Miriam went and got me some medicine and some water and carried me upstairs to Mom’s bed. She sat with me while I cried and hurt so bad. She stayed with me and made things so much better. Love you Miriam!

Isaac

I remember once when she was having a concert and she was playing the piano. When she was done, I ran up there on the stage and I was in my black pants and light blue button up shirt. I gave her the bouquet of flowers. Mom made me do it!! Happy Bday Miriam.