Only You and Me...

So a couple of days ago, on April 5th, I turned 25. It was a sobering feeling. I talked to a peer who was 40 and who just came through a mid life crisis by her own confession. Just a random conversation on my birthday, turned into one about age, and she said something that struck me as rather profound. "You know, getting old makes you wonder how much time you have left. It makes you want to go out into the world and do/experience things you've always wanted. Because you never know when your clock stops."

Personally, I like to think of myself as the energizer bunny (pun intended.) The one that goes on and on and on. But even if I take her seriously, I have a good 50-60 years of battery life left in me. And I made a list of some of the few things that I've always wanted to do that I'll get done by April of 2008.

On another note.

You always know the people who really care for you. They know of things important to you, they ask about the things that matter to you, they help with anything they can and they always remember your birthday.

No, and that doesnt include people who depend on a facebook alert or a birthday reminder to make that pretend call to wish you a happy birthday. That's why I dont put it on facebook or other "social networks" that I'm on.

But some people do remember. My folks. My true friends. And for that I'm really grateful.

Surprisingly, at 11:30ish the night of my birthday, I got a call from T. Since 2003, we've talked only 2-3 times a year. To exchange greetings on occasions that mattered to us.

She wished me a very happy birthday, asked me the usual questions to see how I was doing. And then she said, in a sort of cracked voice. Do you remember 2001?

How could I forget. That night we went to Newport Beach. We had just finished dinner. She brought a backpack with her and I didnt know what it had, but would soon find out. We walked to the beach. She asked me to find some drift wood. She put it together, pulled out some lighter fluid and set it on fire. Then took out a muffin, put a candle in the middle, lit it up and smiled. Her hair flowing in the ocean breeze, her face lit up by the flickering candle flame - it was probably the most beautiful sight I had ever seen in my life. The muffin soon disappeared, we kissed, cuddled and spent the whole night talking until dawn broke. It was one of the best birthdays I've had.

2001? What happened in 2001? I replied. You dont remember?, she asked. It was only you and me.... Nevermind! I have to go, I'm being paged. And the call ended.

It's amazing how one can go through life with memories. It's a really powerful phenomenon. I couldnt muster the courage to tell her, I remember, only you and me. Didnt want to talk abou it. At the time we thought we'd spend the rest of our lives together.