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Dear Big Al,
Dear Big Al,
It's Feb 22, 2013. Seven years have passed since my first birthday blog for you.
SEVEN YEARS.
It's a big birthday for you. You were still in your twenties when I started this blog. You're halfway through your thirties now. Wow!
You were married when I started this blog. Now you have an MBA. And a condo. And a new job. AND A SON.
Seven years doesn't feel like much when you reach adulthood. Work takes over, and one year melts into the next. Age differences don't matter much. You still drive the same car and listen (mostly) to the same music.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
And yet, so much has changed. Seven years ago, iPhones didn't exist. Neither did iPads. We weren't on Facebook (was anyone over the age of 18?) and we didn't follow anyone on Twitter. We didn't read e-books, and Kindle was a verb, not a product. Michael Jackson and Steve Jobs were still alive. No black man had ever been President of the United States. Amazing that these things are all normal now.
So, how should we celebrate your 35th birthday?
We could eat dim sum in Hong Kong...
We could have mezze for lunch in Istanbul...
When P and K are bigger, we will take them to Legoland and Harry Potter World (because we're still kids at heart, too).
But what I would really like to do is offer you 35 wishes.
1. I wish you a happy birthday
2. I wish you many happy returns
3. I wish you cake. And wine.
4. I wish you long-lasting health
5. I wish you laughter
6. I wish you never go grey
7. I wish the Giants win the World Series every year
8. I wish you gourmet meals
9. And I wish you the occasional junk food indulgence
10. I wish you win the lottery
11. But I wish you don't let the money go to your head
12. I wish you a large house with a garden and a garage and a swimming pool
13. And a guest room for your sister and her family
14. I wish you exciting travels
15. I wish you beautiful sunrises and clear, moonlit nights
16. I wish you peace and calm
17. I wish you continued curiosity and accumulated wisdom
18. I wish your wildest dreams come true (vote for Pedro!)
19. I wish you music and your own personal soundtrack
20. I wish you always experience kindness and never experience pain
21. I wish you long hours of uninterrupted sleep
22. I wish you lovely new clothes
23. And a closetful of new shoes
24. I wish you flowers and chocolate
25. I wish you success by whatever measure you choose
26. I wish you joy
27. I wish you all good things
28. I wish you adventures
29. I wish you will always know how loved you are
30. I wish you donuts
31. I wish you fun
32. I wish you never have to sit through a film as dreadful as Sex and the City 2
33. I wish you cool cars and amazing gadgets (iPhone 5!)
34. I wish I hadn't tried to think of 35 wishes
But most of all...
35. I wish you lived closer so that I could give you a big hug
I'm looking forward to spending time with you in France this summer. C'est dommage que j'ai oublié tout mon français... It was fun having a secret language when we were younger.
I hope you have a great birthday. I'm sad that I can't be in sunny California to celebrate with you, but at least we have the webcam to share smiles and a little peek into each other's lives. Talk soon!
Love from your big sis
Love from your big sis