23 Amazing Years

My son's birthday just ended 26 minutes ago. But he lives in the central time zone and I'm writing in the eastern time zone and so it's still his birthday. I made it!

You see, 23 years ago today was a remarkable day. It is the day that God gave Debbie and I the gift of Christopher. No matter how you look at it, he is and has always been, one of my favorite people. I could tell you story after story after story. But I won't. (Okay, I will mention the time he had his friends duck tape him to a stop sign so that he could see what drivers would do when they saw him. As per his usual luck ... the first car approaching was a squad car. That's the kind of thing that makes me laugh WITH ... not at ... him.) But forget the stories. Christopher is no longer a kid.

Christopher is a man.

He is a full time working kind of guy. He is totally engaged to a stunningly beautiful young woman and, on October 11, I will pronounce them man and wife in Beaver Creek, Colorado. You see, Christopher (lovingly known around home as simply "topher" or "toph") never does the normal thing. And I think that a wedding in Beaver Creek is a total fit for the two of them. I couldn't be more excited!

I could tell you so much more about my son. But if you know him ... you already get it. He is one in one million.

Toph. I seriously doubt that you read my blogs. But it doesn't matter. I want the rest of the world to know that I love you ... and I would chisel it in granite to be recorded for the ages. Thank you for being my son. Thank you for making me laugh. I am so glad you came along.

23 years? It's been a great ride. I can't wait for the next 23 ...

(Okay, I have to mention the time he worked at a golf course. He was driving a golf cart, slammed into a coke machine on one of the tee boxes, moved it out of the way, and then ... ran over the golf pro. I kid you not. Other golfers came running and lifted the cart off of the poor guy. After some time in the hospital he was alright ... but I don't think Topher has picked up a golf club since. At least ... I hope not . How could you NOT love Topher!!!!)