Birthday Wishes

Happy birthday, son. You are more expensive than I budgeted for, more interesting than I expected, and more of a person than I had any right to produce. Proud of you, kid.

Happy birthday, Mom. Of all the wild and precious things this life has handed me, you are the one I keep coming back to. Thank you for being home.

Happy birthday, sis. The older I get, the more I realize that everything I know about surviving difficult people I learned from you. You were the training.

Happy birthday, niece. You are going to be very hard to keep up with. I, for one, intend to try anyway.

Happy birthday, friend. The universe lined us up somewhere along the way, and I'm still grateful it did.

Happy birthday, bro. Statistically, growing up in the same house should have made us enemies. Instead you're my person. The odds were not good. We beat them.

Happy birthday, Dad. The Wi-Fi password, the thermostat setting, and your daily opinion on my parking , you have never once held back. It's somehow why we love you.

Eighteen, son. The world opens up today , and you are ready in ways you don't fully see yet. Be brave. Be honest. Be patient with yourself the way we've tried to be patient with you. We are so proud. Whatever you choose from here, we are behind you, always. Happy 18th.

Happy birthday, sweet girl. May this year be loud where it counts, soft where it matters, and full of all the good things you deserve.

Seventy years, Dad — and you're still the man we look up to. Thank you for the work you did, the lessons you taught, and the love you never said out loud but always showed. Happy 70th. Here's to a year of taking it easy. (You've earned it.)

Happy birthday, nephew. I've been watching you grow up for years, and I've arrived at a firm conclusion: we're all going to be hearing about you for a long time. That's a compliment. Mostly.