Birthday Wishes

Happy birthday, Grandma. Of all the people in this family who had opinions about my life choices , you've been right the most. This is your birthday card and my formal acknowledgment.

Happy birthday, my love. Some loves are an event. Ours is a quiet, daily kind of holy. I wouldn't trade it for any louder thing.

Happy birthday, friend. I've known you long enough to have blackmail material, but I'm keeping it in reserve for a more important occasion. Today we just celebrate.

Twenty-five, my friend. A quarter century of being exactly the kind of person the world needs more of. Happy 25th. Proud of you. Lucky to know you.

Happy birthday, Uncle. Your stories get better with every retelling, mostly because you stop adding the boring parts. That's not lying. That's editing. Happy birthday, editor.

Happy birthday, friend. At this point we've been friends long enough that we skip the social performance and go straight to the real stuff. It's my favorite friendship format.

Thirty, brother , and the kid I grew up with has turned into someone I genuinely look up to. You did the work quietly, the way you do everything. Today let us be loud about you for a change. Proud of you. Lucky to know you. Happy 30th.

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, bro. You were the first person I knew I'd never have to explain myself to. I still don't. That's the gift.

Happy birthday, my love. I have learned more about myself from your face than from any therapist. It's cheaper, too. That's just smart household management.

Happy birthday, my love. You make me laugh, you drive me crazy, and you make really good coffee. Of those three things, I can confirm which one keeps me here. I'm not saying.