A belated birthday card to my friend…

~ Live & Learn

paco and migue - birthday pictureI missed your birthday. I’m sorry. From the pictures, it looks like you had fun.

This post started as a roast. A walk down memory lane.

And there are just so many soft targets. Where does one start.

Well, let’s start with your Baby fat. It must have been cute at five. It’s all a bit unseemly at 50.

While we haven’t worked together for years, the memories are fresh. Your complete lack of organization immediately comes to mind. Your inbox gushing like water over a dam with thousands of unread emails. (Most of them mine.) And not a worry on your brow.

Your ability to consistently stumble to the finish line, harried, flustered, often late and not even knowing it.

Yet, despite the urging from your wily Dominican assistant (blond looks good on her in the pic btw), I couldn’t go there.

You play bigger than this.  So much bigger. 

I remember how your eyes would light up when you spoke of spear fishing as a child in the warm tropical waters of Puerto Rico.

Or the fire in your eyes when you speak of your alma mater, “the great Ohio State”…a school that took you in with no English.

I admire your six irons – softly landing on parched South Florida greens.

I listen to you speak of Frankie, your Son. So much hope. So much pride. So much love.

I remember our laughs during afternoon lunches…Vaca Frita or Chicken steak…and always with black beans and rice.

I’ve watched you leave the office on Friday afternoons. Turning on your off-switch. I’ve never found mine.

I’ve listened to you speak of your Dad, with such reverence.  Or watch you care for your aging mother, in admiration.

You are mashed potatoes and gravy.

Or the old pair of jeans that fits just right.

Or a fine novel in front of the fireplace on a cold winter night.

Happy 50th Birthday Paco.

23 thoughts on “A belated birthday card to my friend…”

  6. Nicely said David. Can’t believe you are talking about Paco but I will go with it. Happy Birthday and many more happy healthy years to come.

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  8. Thank you Dave for the belated birthday wishes! This is funny. I have my own list of you.. I did have a great birthday. To you I should say thanks for your guidance, mentorship, leadership and friendship. I could go on…

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  9. In defense, I think Frank was merely attending to the pH level of the well. You showed remarkable restraint Dave, so here’s a NOD (No Oreos Day) to you.
    Of course, it is difficult to poke fun at someone whom looks in better shape at 50 then he did at 40 … Paco, all I can say is, “Man, your 30s must have been rough!”

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    1. ROFL. Stephen, you are a few short list of few, who would know just how much restraint that I showed in this post. 🙂 You are right, he does in fact look better now than he did in his 30’s. 🙂

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