32.

I see you

Thin, muscular arms

Shaggy, dirty blond hair

Unruly cowlicks like mine

Now swept to the side

Finally tamed by years of experimenting

You’re here

In this foreign land

You chose to come

For your special time

Your 32nd birthday

To spend with me & my new family

You chase my kids around the yard

Trip says, “Uncle, J.D.! Can you be the monster?”

Blake says “Yes- chase us, chase us!”

You do. Over and over.

I smile. Watching you.

Your gentle heart.

You aren’t married.

You are figuring out you.

You are the best uncle.

Time has finally taught me

To show you grace.

To let go of my

Severe, stupid, silly

Expectations.

You show me the same grace.

We sit outside in the pleasant May evening

Sipping Old Fashioneds

Laughing about how we could have never imagined it as kids.

Time has taught me

And has also stolen so much

I wish you could hear my plea

My apologies.

How I wish my imagination

Could conjure this picture into reality.