Lucy: One thing I’ve been thinking about a lot this year is the eight-year age gap between Sally and me, and how much I truly appreciate it now in a way I never fully did before. For most of my life, I really felt “the gap” between us. I was too little and too young. This year, I have grown to appreciate it in a way I haven’t before.
Sally has always been a little bit of a mom to me, and it’s so special that Sally remembers every year of my life. Now, especially (with Sally in Atlanta and mom in London), there have been many moments when Sally has stepped in and offered the “maternal” care that I didn’t realize I needed. It has been so comforting to have my big sister down the street to ground and guide me. I’ve realized that having someone I trust, almost a decade ahead of me in life, is so special and important as I navigate my twenties. I truly love having Sally not just as my sister, but as someone I can learn from, lean on, and feel looked after by.
Kyle: The thing I love most about Sally is her appetite for risk. I hear growing up, she was always cautious, just like Collins, but that doesn’t show in her adult life. A move to London, starting her own business, and a move back to Atlanta are all risky ventures. But the thing about risk is that it’s required for a payoff, and it's been awesome to see those dividends start to pay off in a new home, a growing business, and an amazing life. Never stop taking risks; that’s how life becomes boring.
Emily: Sally is the definition of hard-working and supportive. It’s been inspiring to watch her career boom over the last few years, and I have loved every time I've had the pleasure of joining her at an event where industry people recognize her. She is so well respected and loved! Sally is reliable and someone I call whenever I need advice or help. I have always appreciated Sally’s wisdom in life, but now, following in her footsteps as a mom, has been even more special. Sally has a unique way of giving me advice, but also making me feel empowered in my own choices. She never makes me feel dumb and is always there when I need her most. I am SO excited for many more visits to Atlanta this year! I can’t end without also adding how good a mom Sally is to Collins. I hope I am half as good to Vince one day, and I’m so proud of everything Sal does! Happy birthday to our April Fools Salpal!
Taylor: Sal, how could I have managed our life over the past seven months without you? Your constant positivity and clear vision of what you wanted in our home and in our lives have been our guide.
We’ve never experienced so much change and so many ups and downs in one extended period before. No day has been straightforward or easy, and certainly not according to plan. You’ve faced so much in that time and carried on with your trademark energy. You remain focused on caring for others (Collins and me first of all) and giving of yourself. I am so proud of you, and I love you.
Mum: Happy Birthday, Sally! What a year it’s been, moving from London to Atlanta, settling into a new home, growing your business, dealing with health issues, and raising a two-year-old, all while being a great wife, daughter, and sister. The whole family relies on you. You carry a heavy load, and you handle it all with strength, grace, generosity, and kindness. You are one tough and capable woman!
I admire you - your resilience, your drive, and the way you show up for your family. I appreciate that you trust me to help with Collins and that you hold me close to your heart. It means the world to me.
I hope you take some time today to celebrate yourself. You’ve earned it. Can’t wait to enjoy the beach with the whole family. Many thanks to you and Taylor.
All my love, Mum
gPa: Reading these this morning, I found myself doing what fathers tend to do, whether we admit it or not. I wasn’t just reading the words. I was tracing the line from the little girl who liked things just so... to the woman who now carries more than most and somehow makes it look steady. There’s a temptation to point to everything you’ve accomplished. The business, the moves, the life you’ve built. But that’s not actually what stands out.
It’s the way people lean on you. Your sister finds grounding in you. Your family finds strength in you. Your husband finds direction in you. Your child finds safety in you. Plenty of people succeed. Far fewer become someone others can count on. You’ve managed to build a life that holds both, in a season that doesn’t offer extra hours or easy days. That doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from who you are.
And if I’m being honest, there’s a quiet satisfaction in watching your oldest go first and go well. You’ve set a standard for what it looks like to build something meaningful without losing yourself or the people around you. That’s a rare thing. So today isn’t really about celebrating what you’ve done. It’s about recognizing who you’ve become. And I couldn’t be prouder to call you my daughter.
