There's a part of me that sometimes wonders,
Allowing my imagination to run wild and free,
What it would be like to talk to you again,
About anything and everything under the sun,
Not as I was back then in my teens,
But as I am now in my fifth decade, spinning around the
sun,
More mature, hardened, constantly becoming
and filled with battle scars
Yet somehow getting younger, finally finding my place.

That part of the wild, free imagination
Imagines you have more battle scars of your own,
Getting though this obstacle race called life,
Knowing happiness and, inevitably, sadness as well
But hoping, as you keep turning and turning around the sun
That you're still optimistic and lifeful,
See the best in every situation and still believes that
Tomorrow is filled with new possibilities and options
We haven't seen or thought of today or yesterday,
Hoping that, wherever you are now,
You too have finally found your place.

That part of the wild, free imagination
Imagines us sitting on a beach somewhere,
Maybe Santa Monica next to the pier,
Talking about anything and everything under the sun,
Trying to make sense of a world gone somehow so wrong,
So bleak, dark, cold and alone,
Reminding ourselves there's still good around us
In people, in nature, in music, in books,
In a simple sunset or a moment that always passes,
That maybe not all hope is lost
and that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a runaway
train.

And I wish to tell you that the tests I've put you through,
The days I'm certain I've probably drove you out of your
mind,
They weren't because I didn't trust you,
It was because I couldn't trust myself and what I felt,
Dealing for the time in my life with the fact that someone
actually cares
And with those pesky things called feelings,
Learning to get to know them, myself, and how to live with
them.
And though I never look back in regret or sadness
I do wish sometimes I'd've dealt with things quite
differently,
But you know what they say about hindsight being 20/20.

There is a part of me that sometimes wonders,
Allowing my imagination to run wild and free,
Though I am always aware it's just a day dream, a wishful
thinking,
Though sometimes, every once in a while,
It's good to allow the imagination to run wild and free,
Imagining better, more hopeful and beautiful things.
But nevertheless as reality stands firm and cold,
I just wanted to you to know that I still believe in you
Just as you once said that you believed in me,
Knowing that whatever life threw at you, you stood tall,
Kept moving forward and creating incredible things,
Making the best, seeing the best, doing the best.

And as you enter your sixth decade,
Wherever you are, whatever you have become,
I wish you all the best,
Fair winds and following seas,
Strength ,conviction,strong spine and fortitude,
And that you keep your faith and hopes high,
Still believing tomorrow has a better route to seek and
try.

Moments will pass...
...as well they should,
and as life goes on
and we shed our skins and become
our best version of ourselves
the important ones always remain,
Never fading away.

(Happy birthday)