Update 12/10/16- Brett will be 32 tomorrow! And most exciting, he is engaged to be married to Andi, who I am so happy to gain as a daughter in law (really daughter) and who I love spending time with. So as you read below, now I have a best friend and a bonus.
It’s my son Brett’s birthday on December 11 and he will be 31 – how is that possible? At any rate, ever since I have been blogging – for many years now, I have always written birthday blogs for my two children. I both toast and roast them in these blogs, and I love the opportunity to reflect on their personality traits and lives, as well as how much I appreciate them on their special day. (On the other hand THEY may have thought it was an opportunity to embarrass them with old stories and old photos – but I think they enjoy them.)
This year as I was thinking about Brett and what I wanted to write for his birthday; which included thinking about everything I have already written about him before, I realized that I mostly reminisced about his past. True that’s fun to do, (especially sharing those ADORABLE photos) but I have never really toasted the man he is today as a full-fledged adult. And that my friends, is a disservice to him because he is one incredible adult person.
As a matter of fact, he is one of my very best friends. And I must note, that I am extremely choosy about who I call a best friend.
I found this definition of best friend in the Urban Dictionary:
Best Friends are very special people in your life. They are the first people you think about when you make plans. They are the first people you go to when you need someone to talk to. You will phone them up just to talk about nothing, or the most important things in your life. When you’re sad they will try their hardest to cheer you up. They give the best hugs in the world! They are the shoulder to cry on, because you know that they truly care about you. In most cases they would take a bullet for you, (because) it would be too painful to watch you get hurt.
Back to me: That’s my Brett.
Then I found this on Yahoo Answers: “best friend–is a person closest to your heart, a person where you can rely on, a person that makes you smile, a person that makes you laugh, a person that makes you think, a person that pushes you to the limit of your ability, a person that hugs you when you are in deep sorrow.”
That’s also my Brett.
I feel blessed and lucky every day that my children have grown into responsible, hard-working, successful, compassionate, social, and most of all loving adults. It’s honestly not bragging to say this, it is just the truth, and everyone who knows them agrees.
There’s also this saying that gets posted on Facebook frequently:
I could not have asked for a better adult human being in my life than my own son. He is someone that simply makes the world a better place with his big heart, his intelligence, and his personality. In fact, his heart is as big as the sky, bigger than an ocean. He has an enormous capacity for love, for compassion, and is passionate about the things he loves.
It is even luckier for me, because I know from some of my female friends that they are closer to their daughters, that I am as close to my son as I am to my daughter. I am so fortunate that he lives in the same city as me. We talk often, get together often, and just make idle conversation on a nearly daily basis, either though IM’s, texts, or chats. He shares so much of his life with me; he loves to go shopping with me on occasion when we both have the time; and we even have one-on-one evenings at dinner every once in awhile – Son and Sushi I call these, where it is just mother and son. We can catch up and truly connect, and these times are quite special for me because there is almost no one I would rather spend time with than Brett.
When I completed a post-Master’s program at Rice University’s prestigious Jones Graduate School of Business as an old lady just a few years ago- despite never having taken a business course before, Brett was the very proudest person on the sidelines, encouraging me, cheering me on, and beaming at my graduation with the most gorgeous bouquet of roses.
I’ve had a rough year with losing my home to a flood and losing a parent, and no one, other than my daughter, has been more of a champion at trying to cheer me, trying to fix things for me, trying to make things easier. When I turned the big 6-0 last May, there was no one more involved in making sure it was the absolute most special occasion and birthday ever. (In that regard, he wouldn’t want me to publicly share all that he did, as he is very modest and humble, but trust me, those who knew everything he did were blown away.)
He always lets me know how loved and appreciated I am. He randomly expresses his affection.
There is no one more fun to be around either. In short, I absolutely enjoy every moment of having him as my son and best friend.
This guy with a heart of pure gold, whose love and compassion know no limits, is now involved with a sweetheart of a girl. (Certified Mom-Approved!) Between his high demand (time-wise) job, and his girlfriend, one would think Mom would get left behind. That’s just not the case.
He always, always, always makes time for Mom.
Here’s wishing Brett the best in life, as he deserves, as well as the best birthday ever, along with a wish for many, many more years of happy, healthy birthdays! This blog and wish is given with more love than I could ever express in mere words. Brett, I love you and appreciate you every single day – happy birthday my wonderful son – a true bestie if there ever was one.
Made me cry, just like the 1st time I read it…last year. It is just as beautiful and touching, but I believe my tears are because I identify . Every year I think “it doesn’t get better than this”…and then it does!
Beautiful tribute to a truly wonderful son! Reading this brought tears to my eyes, Arlene. You have created this well-adjusted,loving, and lovable, contributing member to society by being in his corner every step of the way. Kudos to you and Happy Birthday to Brett!