My old man

Today is Mike's 30th birthday. I'm hoping that he's having a good day so far, and that this year will be one of his best yet. I feel like he's at an exciting place in his life, and we're at an exciting place as a family, so I can imagine that this next 12 months is going to be pretty thrilling. I'm not sure that we're doing anything especially thrilling tonight though, aside from the season finale of 24.

The big excitement was Saturday, when we celebrated Mike's birthday in grand style. We rented out a theater at the local movie house, and showed one of his favorite films to a packed house of family and friends. It was his dream birthday party, one he's talked about for years, and I'm so glad we were able to put it together for him. Let me tell you how funny it was to look up at a theater full of faces and know every one of them--I'm sure Mike felt pretty special to have everyone there celebrating with him too. Of course, I had to knock him down a couple of pegs by putting together a slideshow of slightly embarrassing pictures (mullet) from the past three decades, but even that was well received.

Evan really enjoyed the party also. It was his first time at the "moonies", and he loved it. He even sat through about the first half hour of the film, which wasn't too bad. He was a little more impressed by the giant birthday cake and the arcade in the lobby, but I can understand that. He had such a good time that he wanted to go back the next day, but I don't know if a theater full of strangers would be as understanding of his running in and out, up and down the stairs, and clever narrations of the on-screen action.

As of next week, I will have known Mike for half his life. We met for the first time at the end of our ninth grade year, about a week after his 15th birthday. We became fast friends, and spent the next three years of high school tormenting each other in and out of class. Now I'm lucky enough to get to torment him at home on a daily basis.

So happy birthday, best friend. I'm so glad we met, and I'm so glad you talked too much in Ma Hilliard's class and got sentenced to sitting in front of me, the quiet girl. Pretty soon you got me talking too, and somehow I've never shut up. And here we are, many years later, with a wonderful marriage and a beautiful son and another one about to join the party. I couldn't ask for anything more.