To My Best Friend

Written By David Berry

35 years old. A milestone birthday celebrated at 10 months pregnant during a global health pandemic. Just the way you always dreamed, right?

You were 30 when we met. That means we’ve spent roughly 14% of your life together.

I’m grateful to be building this life with you. I love you, Jessica. I’m grateful that even as life takes on paths we never could’ve planned, I always know for certain that you and I are home in one another.

I am grateful to your stork. I am grateful to your mom and dad. And on a day like today, I can’t help but think about the odds, of how lucky I got, that I would meet you at all. But I did.

And together, we’ve been from a high top at Bulla to (if my math is right) 12 different states and 4 countries together.

We’ve shared three homes, a master’s graduation and a drive through the state of Florida to avoid a hurricane while simultaneously hiding your engagement ring in a bag in the trunk.

We’ve communicated honestly since our first date, when I made a point of staying in touch with you even while we were both away. And it’s that honesty and baseline of trust that has made us strong, made us capable, and made us us.

Life feels slow sometimes, but when I consider that I can still imagine your smile across from me on our first date, or the blue dress you wore to Farinelli, or the way you kissed me in the car that night, or when I told you I Love You in the parking garage stairwell of the old Coco Walk — it all feels so fast too.

And now, you’re just days away from giving birth to our son.

Of course, he’ll have many days of his own for us to celebrate. But he’s also a reason for me to celebrate you. The qualities that I see in you as you become a mother are somehow the things that made me fall in love with you, even before I knew I wanted to start a family.

And maybe that’s what I love about you most. It’s that in you, I know I have someone who feels like home. Who feels like family. And who loves me with all of her heart.

I love you with all of mine.

Happy birthday, my Jessica.

-David

David Berry