Milestones

Today is Richard's birthday. In the seven years we have known one another, this is his first birthday that he is spending alone. In 2002 we had known each other for just about two months. A few of his friends and his sister had come to visit for the summer, but everyone returned home before his birthday. I promised him that I would spend his birthday with him, even if I had to drive back to Santa Barbara from Long Beach. Which I did, and I got a speeding ticket on the way. In 2003, he had returned to California from June through September, so we had his birthday together that year. 2004 gave us a lot to celebrate, as he had just returned to California nine days before his birthday. So that year had a few celebrations. And not even a year later, he was moving again, but this time up to the Bay Area. When his birthday came, I had moved up here as well and we were living in an Extended Stay Motel. Since I was unemployed, he got some "gift coupons" to be used when I had a job. I don't think he ever cashed them in. Oh, and he also got a balloon. In 2006 I took him to see one of his favorite bands Zero 7 at the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco. 2007 his parents were here for a visit and last year he came up here to visit me so we could spend the weekend together. We had just returned from a trip to Greece for his friend's wedding, so it was nice to just relax together. It is a similar situation this year, since his parents were just here for three weeks. But he is spending his birthday alone. Not even a balloon this year, and that makes me sad. I know we will make up for it next weekend, which is a long weekend for us both. So we will be celebrating a lot then, just four nights away. But I hate to think of him alone today. I miss him a lot and I really wish I was there to hug him. I am tired of milestones passing us by while we are 397 miles apart.