Hi Jr,
9 years ago around this time I was curling my pregnant self up on my favorite futon, Pillow Pet wedged under my bump, Potter zonked out at the other end wrapped around my feet, full of Pasquinis and ready for some sleep.
8 hours later we were off to the hospital to meet you, because your habit of waking mom up pre-dawn had to start somewhere.
I have a terrible/wonderful habit of taking a selfie of us after you doze off the night before your birthday. When you are quiet and still, and I can still see hints of the little face I first saw peering back at me back then.
Sorry, not sorry
I know this birthday isn’t what we thought it would be. I know it isn’t fair and everything is strange and sometimes scary right now and that it really sucks, buddy.
I hate it – believe me, I want the world and the sun and the moon for you… I want a million bajillion things for you and none of them look like this.
Here is my promise to you, now and always, my sweet silly strong amazing son: Whatever we face, I will work with you to make the best of it. Tomorrow for your birthday (don’t you worry, doodle, mom’s got some tricks up her sleeve,) and the day after that, and all of the days to come. Your dad and I, and your NeNe and Pop, and Gaga and Grandpa, and all the Aunts and Uncles and Cousins will always help you find the good in the world.
But then again, that is easy with you around – because you are an unending source of good – you find it and multiply it, wherever you go.
And I am so sorry you and all the other kiddos around the world are experiencing this, and that the normal we all live right now is so far removed from the world you knew just a few short weeks ago.
We will get back there, friend.
I am so proud of how you are hard you are trying and finding ways to adapt and still be funny and energetic and creative and loving; and I am proud of how you value others in the world and see yourself in the greater picture of our town, our state, our country, and our world. You have a big, brave, WONDERFUL heart. We are just the luckiest ever to have you as our son.
You are a beam of light, and where you go darkness runs to hide.
You illuminate all of the goodness in the world for me. Burn bright always Jr.
See you tomorrow (comically early as always, I am sure,) birthday boy.
Reluctantly Suburban 