Two For One: Cally and Dustin are both turning 40, but their shared birthdays are just a fraction of how connected they are

“Never above you. Never below you. Always right with you.”

This is something the friend group of John, Cally, Dustin and Chris say every time they get together. It is a humble reminder that they are always there for each other and that none of them are better or worse than the other.

And while this saying is a great reminder for these four friends, as Cally and Dustin are both celebrating their 40th birthdays, John and Chris want to reflect upon what makes both of them so special. They are two awesome people in their own right, and they both deserve to be celebrated for such.

“Dustin is pretty much my brother from another mother,” John said. “I have known him for over 25-plus years, and we’ve been friends ever since. Through the highs and lows of life, we’ve been there together.

“Cally is pretty much the same way. I knew she was ‘the one’ right away, and we’ve known each other for almost 20 years now and have been married for 16-plus. When Cally and I were getting together, Dustin got along with her right away. There was no drama or arguments; they’ve been fast friends and sort of like siblings ever since.”

The bond between these three individuals is unique, as they each have their own dual relationship, but at the same time the three of them together are inseparable. As a wife to John, Cally is someone he knows will always support him and will always keep him humble. At the same time, as one of his best friends, Dustin always has John’s back and makes all the times they spend together memorable.

Then you add in Chris, and this group is like the Fantastic Four. They have so much love for one another and they all lift each other up.

“Cally and Dustin are the kind of friends who you can always rely on to help when you need them, as well as call you on your bullshit if need be,” Chris said. “They tend to be the life of the party and always look to keep everyone entertained. They are the kind of ride-or-die friends that you don’t get very many of in life, and I’m lucky to have them in my life.”

“Cally and Dustin are both free spirits and frequently change where they want to go or what they want to eat… Which is one of the special things about them,” John exclaimed.

In many ways, Cally and Dustin are very similar. Yet at the same time, they are both very different and unique, and their unique personalities are what everyone loves about them.

On one hand, Cally is the most amazing mother to her and John’s children, being there for the kids no matter what. She provides them both with a pillar of encouragement and strength, and all the activities and academics they are involved in can be attributed to being raised by the best mom.

Simultaneously, Cally is a very kind and compassionate individual. She is a graphic designer who can usually be seen volunteering, gardening, watching Netflix, or spending time with family and friends. She has a great sense of humor and a free-spirited nature.

On the other hand, you have Dustin, who is absolutely obsessed with the NFL. He loves buying merch and has as many fantasy teams as fingers on his hand, and he even makes it a point to go to Buffalo Wild Wings multiple times a season with John.

Dustin is also the kind of individual with a tough exterior but a soft interior. He is a cook who comes across as rigid, but he loves giving to people (especially his people), and he is a jokester just like his mother.

Cally and Dustin are both exceptional people who are great to get to know, and John and Chris could not be more appreciative of them. These two are also two peas on a pod who pick on each other and smack talk like siblings, but deep down they love and care for each other.

They also have a knack for creating endless memories with their friends. From the boys trip to the NFL Hall of Fame and the awesome Super Bowl parties (with Dustin’s top-notch cooking) to Cally’s mom’s first visit from Australia and the Royal Oak house parties, life with these two is better than life without them.

“While there are too many to list, I would say the ones most important to me are the times when we can all get together and celebrate or commiserate our lives together, sharing stories and drinks till all hours of the night,” Chris stated.

All this is to say Cally and Dustin are super awesome people. They might be their own individuals and not related by blood or marriage, but their bond is unbreakable, and sharing the exact same birthday makes them forever intertwined.

“I just want to say it’s been a privilege to call you both my friends all these years and I look forward to many more of sharing our lives and watching all our families grow. As we say at every get together, ‘Never above you. Never below you. Always right with you.’” – Chris

“I love both of you so much! Cally as a wife, and Dustin as a brother. You both mean the world to me. My life wouldn’t be the same without you, and I look forward to many more Super Bowl parties and birthdays to come!” – John