Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me,

When I'm 64?

I've got a number of years to go until San Geraldo has to answer the preceding questions. Maybe not such a very big number. But still, a number. San Geraldo, on the other hand, has arrived.

And in case anyone is wondering, yes, I still need him. But, no, I will not feed him. Why ruin a good thing? If I had been feeding San Geraldo for the past 32+ years, he might not have made it to 64.

My public birthday message to San Geraldo is brief this year. I try to tell him at least daily how grateful I am for every moment with him. How grateful for every adventure we have taken (and continue to take) together. For being loving, charming, and gregarious. For being exceedingly predictable and exceedingly inconsistent. For being shy sometimes, generous, fascinating, sincere, honest, childlike, comically (mostly comically) grumpy. For being open, empathetic, patient, and entertaining. For being every other thing I could possibly wish for — and any number of things I never thought I would have the patience (or love) to tolerate.

Happy birthday, San Geraldo.