Thank You

So a couple days ago was my fathers fifty-first birthday. For all the things to be said about my father he is the most unselfish human being I’ve ever encountered. Though it may be in many ways unorthodox it still rings true in all aspects of his life. It was the way that he loved honestly, from his family and friends to all of the people we’ve come in contact with in the many facets of our lives. Growing up his birthday was never something that we celebrated the way that I think we should’ve. I think it’s a holiday not unlike Christmas or thanksgiving, but with one major difference. All those other holidays are for you and everybody else, whereas your birthday is for you, to celebrate another year in a life well lived. I think I might have been a teenager before I asked why my mom always acted like it was her day because although my mom is royalty in her own regard it was my dad’s birthday. Then I was informed that it was also their anniversary. Which blew my mind because if you know my mom you could understand how your birthday would become a sideshow to a day dedicated to her getting married. And honestly I still don’t know why it went down that way but it did. Maybe my dad wanted to marry someone he loved on his birthday because it meant that much to him. Or maybe he just wanted it to be on a day that he wouldn’t ever forget but whatever the reason we are where we are. So this is in two parts because as I said there are two major events that took place on October 8th. The second is dedicated to my parents as a whole, maybe more of a thank you note. I guess I want to start by thanking them for showing me what it means to be in a partnership, and what it is supposed to look like when you’re with the person you’re going to be with the rest of your life. I saw thick and I most definitely saw thin and through it all even if they didn’t realize it they clung to each other in the best and worst ways. I want to thank them for allowing me to become the hopeless romantic I am because through all of single parent households and children of divorce I was never really worried about it because every day no matter what happened they would go to their fortress that was their room and decide how to champion through any situation. Especially the ones I put them through, because although I had fun it wasn’t lost on me the toll it took on them. I remember talking to someone once and she asked me about my parents and although she isn’t prevalent in my life anymore what she said is what really opened my eyes to world wind relationship that is Juan and Erica Webb. She told me that there’s nobody else on the planet who could deal with them besides each other. So my parents will always be together. And it didn’t sound bad at all when I heard it put that way because if you knew them you understood how true the statement really was. There are a million ways I could thank them and I want too but I’ll leave them with one more. I want to thank you with my entire being for showing me what it truly means to be In love with your best friend. So this year and all the others before and to come. Happy birthaiversary.