Birthday Blog Post

I actually greeted this new year of my life sipping tea and listening to Phillip Glass, looking at paintings on a gallery website. It was not planned. A complete accident of circumstance. And it was wonderfully sublime. I felt the day of the 29th come upon me feeling, 'Yes. I am me.'

It was nice to be with one of my favorite people in the world, who, throughout all of these years, despite his quirks and neuroses, still provides the most wonderful companionship--John Quintana.

As the minutes rolled by, I couldn't help but think about me and my life. Life has perhaps never been a greater mystery to me than it is now. But if I were to die tomorrow, I can honestly say this has been my life, I have lived it the best way I know how.

I love you, my friends, whose many paths in life have been an example to me of diligent striving, hoping, believing, yearning, and willing. I love you my friends, who have shown to me different facets of myself and what i could grow to be, who have challenged me and made re-evaluate. I love my friends who are also my parents who have taught me lessons I am only now beginning to discover. I love my friend and companion and strength and hope that has been and is God, from whom I hope to continue to learn and continue to turn to in humility.

Life has been good to me. And gracious. I have no reason to feel anything less than gratitude.

As I listen to this beautiful music, I cannot help but be touched by, more than anything, the sublime gift that is beauty. Beauty in art, music, nature, spirit. In many ways, it too has been my god. I have sought after it so much. I am grateful to God that I can appreciate beauty and that it is here for us to learn from and be guided by.

A birthday gift to be grateful for. Beauty. Truth. Love.