Happy 37th Birthday Jason

Jason,

Today we celebrated your 37th birthday.

The best part of your day was “being with family” even though you’d “been with [us] for like the last whole month.”

The worst part of your day was working and having a difficult conference call with a client.

The funniest part of your day was Nolan picking up your computer mouse to use as a phone (trying to delay nap time with a call to Santa).

As usual, these answers were shared around the table while we ate dinner as a family.

There wasn’t anything extraordinary about this birthday except that this year’s “celebration” was under “quarantine” due to the “stay at home order” Illinois implemented as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

So. We spent your birthday together as a family while you worked from home:

You made yourself a nice pot of Starbucks coffee while I cooked eggs for breakfast. (The blueberry bagels looked extra blue and questionable so those got tossed).

I ran out to quickly pick up lunch wearing a hat and face mask: Jimmy John’s sandwiches and Nothing Bundt Cakes for dessert.

We sang “Happy Birthday” and Nolan “helped” you blow out your candle on the red velvet cupcake.

You opened presents and received a dart board. (Electronic not Bristle so you can’t cheat keeping score).

We had a finance discussion and to your shock/enjoyment, I helped you select stocks for investing. (Turns out, I’m the best at “day trading”).

You got a quick workout down in the basement, a hot shower, and some good afternoon snuggles with Graham.

We FaceTimed with your family (which unfortunately came to an abrupt end due to a particularly stinky diaper).

We ate dinner together as a family - “Homemade” deep dish pepperoni pizza. (Surprisingly, you declined my offer of Buffalo Wild Wings. Even more shocking - Ferdinand the Bull was on in the background while we ate, not Family Feud).

You sipped on a glass of whiskey while I drank a Blue Moon and we looked through old pictures of Nolan and photographs from vacations. (This was the best part of my day).

I ended your birthday the same way I started it - not waking you for your “Graham Shift” and letting you get another full night of sleep.

This birthday came at a time when we wear face masks while running errands, distance ourselves at least 6 ft from anyone in public, wipe down groceries before putting them away, socialize with friends via Zoom and Facetime, and laugh at any meme containing tigers and mullets.

It wasn’t a milestone birthday. It wasn’t a birthday celebrated in another state or on vacation. It wasn’t a birthday shared with friends or extended family. There wasn’t a fun derby-themed party or any decorations. But it was a special birthday.

Jason, today you celebrated your 37th birthday with your loving (and beautiful) family as a healthy, safe, employed husband and father. I hope you felt how extraordinary today actually was.

Happy Birthday Monkey.