ladysprite | Celebrating

I've been through a lot of changes in my life - everyone has. I've been a lot of different people, and played a lot of different roles. And for more than half of my life, there has been one constant, dependable, strong, safe pillar there for me.

I met him when I was seventeen, more than half a lifetime ago. By the end of the first month of my freshman year, he was a fixture in my world. Admittedly, a large, slightly intimidating fixture with a name I still wasn't quite sure I was pronouncing right, but a core part of my new world all the same.

He was the smartest, strongest, wisest, most peaceful person I had ever met, and he still is. He brings calm with him like an aura, the way some people bring the scent of their perfume, even when he's being goofy and energetic or embracing his Discordian leanings.

He is the best teacher I know, with his patience and enthusiasm. He introduced me to so many things I love - from Warren Zevon to Babylon 5 to camping to Isaac Asimov, and enough more that I can't list them all here.

He treated me with respect before I ever had any idea of what that felt like. And after half a lifetime of knowing the ins and outs of each others' conversations, he still listens to every word I say, and wants to hear them.

Most of all, he has given me the freedom to find out who I am, and to be that person, and he has loved me every step of the way. I don't know who I would be now if it weren't for him, but I'm fairly certain that person wouldn't be half as strong, or happy, as I am now.

I'd say I have no idea how I got so lucky, but I know what his answer would be. Instead, I'll just say that I hope beyond hope that I can be as good to him as he is to me.

Happy birthday,