"what did you get for your birthday?"

"what did you get for your birthday"

i mean really

it's more like

what have you got

another year has past

and

what have you got to show for it

things? stuff?

-

how about

-

memories

like none i've ever made

-

love

like none i've ever had

-

dreams

like i've never indulged

-

laughter

despite savage adversity

-

friends

worth keeping

-

family that loves me

no matter what

-

enough affluence

to help others

-

a strange

sense of permenance

-

and

peace in my soul

-

i got woke up this morning

by everyone

in my bed

one with a plate of fire

another

with a breakfast plate of cardiovascular instability

all with a look of love

bellowing happy birthday like i'm already deaf

we shopped on ebay

emily wore her ladybug costume

i blogged

friends thought of me and texted or called or msn'd

or not only called

but sang a garish but honest version of happy birthday

start to finish

over the speaker phone

i went out for dinner

with mom and dad

and the bre and diana and emily

-

really

-

i got it all

there are no gifts greater than these

not even a tattoo,

or raingear for wet weather riding,

or very sexy

saddlebags for the bike

or

chocolate bombe

-

it's the thought that counts

i love you all