Happy Birthday Sky

Sky,

Hey, it's your birthday and I should be e-mailing you with a "happy birthday", but instead I'm writing here. It doesn't feel right, but it is the way it is.

Rebecca and I have been thinking about you a lot, and some days we feel your presence more than others. Today was particularly strong and fitting. We've become community activists in our neighborhood, for a cause we think you would have supported and enjoyed hearing about. In fact, this morning we were interviewed by the local news and the story was aired this evening. We don't think this was some random coincidence it being on your birthday and all.

Today was a beautiful day as well, the only sunny day (with clear skies) we've had all month. We can't help but think you had something to do with that. It reminded us of how the weather cleared out just in time for your memorial.

Still, it seems we should be enjoying all of this with you: kicking back with a beer and laughing about how silly I looked on TV and then making silly noises that referenced all of the video games we played in college. However with everything that we've seen and felt today, we know that you're still with us.

Happy Birthday Sky--we love you and miss you.

Love,
Mikey & Becka

February 17, 1979

Happy Birthday Sky
wherever you are. Thinking
about you and loving you
and missing you and wishing
you were here.

xoxox, your brother-in-law,
John

birthday

Your birthday is coming, little bro. I don't know why but so far of all the shitty milestones that we've all passed through these past 6 months, this one is looming the largest for me. To say that I miss you is the understatement of a lifetime. When you died, baby brother, my heart cracked open and the person that I was died then, too. (Which, to tell the absolute truth, isn't necessarily a bad thing. But that's another story.) Suffice it to say that you are missed, body and soul. Three days until your birthday now, the day when you would have turned 29 years old. Missing you. Loving you.