Some Things You Just Have to Experience

Happy birthday, bro. Real ones know — you've always been the steady one, the funny one, the one I can call when everything's on fire. Today the celebration is on me. Cheers to you, always.

Happy birthday, bro. You've been the person I measure my own steadiness against , and most days you set the bar higher than I can reach. You showed up for me before I knew how to ask. You'll show up again, I know. Today the showing up is mine. Cheers to you, brother. I love you in the quiet, lifelong way.

Thirty, bro. Let me tell you what I actually think: you have your whole life to be sensible. You had one twenties. Whatever you got out of them, I hope it was worth it. Now comes the part where you know what you want, have enough to want it with, and care enough to go get it. Happy 30th. This is the good part.