Birthday Wishes

Happy birthday, friend. Some people you meet. Some people you recognize. You were the recognizing kind, and I've been grateful ever since.

Twenty-one, son. The road is yours now , go choose well, love hard, and don't be a stranger. We're so proud of who you've become. Happy 21st.

Happy birthday, Mom. Some part of me knew you before this life began, and some part will know you long after. The rest of me just wants to make you tea today.

Happy birthday, daughter. You have my stubbornness, your mother's charm, and your own particular brand of chaos. The combination is entirely unreasonable and I love it.

Happy birthday, bro. Every family has a legend. You're ours. This is meant as a compliment, but I want you to sit with the ambiguity for a moment.

Happy birthday, Grandpa. The man you've been is the foundation this whole family stands on. We notice. We love you.

Happy birthday, Mom. You taught me that love is mostly small things done daily without fanfare. Today I'm trying to love you back as quietly and fully as you've loved me.

Sixty years, Grandma , sixty years of love poured generously into everyone around you, and somehow you still have more to give. Today the whole family wraps the table around you and just listens. Tell us a story. Take your time. We're not going anywhere. Happy 60th.

Happy birthday, my love. You saw me in the morning, in the bad moods, in the moments I'm not proud of , and then you made me dinner anyway. That is either love or spite. I'll take it.

Happy birthday, sis. Nobody else in the world can call me out like you can, and somehow when you do it I feel less crazy, not more. You're my calibration tool. Thank you.

Fifty looks beautiful on you, Auntie. Five decades of being unmistakably yourself , generous, funny, brave, the heart of every room. May this year hand back even a fraction of what you give the rest of us. Happy 50th. We love you.