With Love

On this 5th day of December, 2019, I want to wish you a very special birthday. I cherish my time with you and I always have. I will never forget the time that you and I went on a vacation together to New York. I know that it wasn’t your favorite vacation, but it was my favorite vacation that I have ever been on. You were wonderful company and we went to a broadway show. I was surprised that I was feeling more adventurous than you were on that trip; however, I don’t remember you complaining. I remember that we had a very fun time.

I remember how cute you looked in your suit and how charming you were at the wedding. You were very social as you mingled with all the adults and I had several of them comment on your sweet, fun personality. I don’t remember any other kids there and you seemed content conversing with the adults. Central Park was beautiful that day and we took many pictures. Unfortunately, my camera died and the backup failed. All of the pictures were lost, except for the pictures that were taken by others. Those I haven’t seen.

I remember when I wanted to move to Switzerland and you wanted to go with me. Of course I couldn’t have left without you, but I wasn’t sure if it could happen. I imagined that it would be such a fun time together, like our New York trip. However, I knew the plan wouldn’t go over very well with others, so I made sure that you knew the downside of such a drastic move. At that point you changed your mind. I still wish that we could have shared that adventure.

Like I said, I have always cherished your company. I’ve always seen you as a well rounded young man. You have intelligence and you have a very charming personality. You know how to carry on a conversation about interesting topics. As you know, my very favorite quality about you is your sweet heart and oh, what a wonderful person you are.

Remember when you grew a garden at school and gave our neighbor a potato? Remember in Kindergarten, when you gave your best friend $100 for his birthday and his mom called me? The bill had been sitting on our kitchen counter. Remember your broken heart when your first girlfriend moved away? Remember when we would watch Anderson Cooper together? This isn’t about politics, but remember when Obama hadn’t been in office long and we were reading about him on the news. You saw a picture of him with his daughters and said, “He’s such a beautiful man.” You would say, “I love Rock Obama.” This boy is the angel I know.

About a year and a half ago we were making plans to spend time with the family. You disagreed with a choice I made and you talked to me with your own mother’s wisdom. That’s the wisdom that I gave to you and you turned it back to me. You told me that I was the one who taught you that you don’t give up on relationships with people who you love. I can’t tell you how proud I was of you for that day.

One, you showed that you have thought about my parental advice. Two, you showed the maturity to value what I had to say. Three, you supported me in a sensitive way and helped me make the right decision. and Four, the day turned out better than I had expected because of that. The day was so important that it left an everlasting lifetime memory.

These are examples of a fine young man, who I am and will always be so very proud of. Thank you for blessing my life with your soul. You are proof that life is a miracle. I feel thankful as I think back to that beautiful, fat, two-week-old, naked, baby boy whose picture sits in my office.

With more love than you can imagine, Happy Birthday.

Your Mom