Many good friends have touched my life over the years, but none have marked it like the kid I met in 1984 in Mrs. Conkright’s pre-algebra class. His first words to me were “Ten more minutes until we get out of this barf bag”. I could not have know then that he would become my lifelong confidant, my most vigilant advocate, and my you’re-stuck-with-me-until-one-of-us-dies-so-you-better-get-used-to-it friend. He has been with me through my triumphs and my defeats, my joys and my heartbreaks. He has picked me up when I’ve been face down in the dirt, and he has steadied me when I’ve stumbled. He’s always ready with a joke and an encouraging word in the face of adversity, and he is loyal to the death. In short, he’s a better friend than I deserve, and my life has been immeasurably enriched by his presence. Today, on his 41st birthday, I wish for him to receive even a fraction of the joy that he has brought to me (and so many others) over his remarkable life, and to know that he is loved more than I (or they) can say. Happy birthday Buddy. They don’t make ’em like you anymore.