With hands trembling from exhaustion after a 11-hour drive, I throw out birthday shouts to three very special people:

  1. My great aunt Annabelle who turns 80 this weekend. I join my family in North Carolina to celebrate the occasion later today. When my clan gets together, it’s sho’ ’nuff a party and everybody loves Aunt Anna.
  2. My very own mom, Ms. Zhhamenique Rose. She rode shotgun on the trip, the first we have ever taken together. As few as three years ago, this little adventure would be a mere flight of fancy. We can never recapture the time we have lost, but we can make the most of that we have left.
  3. My only son Julien, 10 years old as of Memorial Day. Juice, I could slather upon your name any number of superlatives, but I’m just a proud dad and that’s what proud dads do. Rather, I place in your hands the tasks of discovering about yourself what I already know and making your presence felt where ever you go.

To you three, I extend simple, heartfelt birthday greetings and the hope to repeat them next year.