I met you through LiveJournal one day, and it took us a while to meet, to make sure we were as cool IRL as we made ourselves out to be virtually.

Not meaning to be cool, of course.

You’d always make the effort whenever you came even near the city to meet for food and conversation and a few hugs.  I’m sorry I’m in Florida. The distance seems to strain everyone’s life, including my own. But maybe I’m flattering myself, which is not the point of this post.

Thank you for being my friend.

Still flattering myself, for your influence in my life is one of the greatest compliments I could ever have.

I miss you, and I hope you have the grandest of birthdays and the grandest of years.

Happy Birthday, Ray.