Feliz Cumpleanos Alvaro

Dear Alvaro,

Tomorrow is you 23rd birthday and the day I met you one year ago. You told me you were from Fiji. I told you that you were from Spain. Your friends told me you were from Colombia. I didn't believe them. Colombia was a land of peasants and well, the C word. No one came to Indiana from Colombia, especially not to attend University. You gave me your phone number that night, I didn't quite understand what your name was so I put your name in my phone as, "Columbia."

You called me later in the week and called me by my last name, it sounded something like Hamburger. I thought it was cute. It took you awhile to learn how to say Habegger and Robyn, too. The rest is history.

From the time I met you, you have dazzled me with you unrelenting spirit to succeed and your passion for life. I hope your 22nd year was just as wonderful as mine. May your 23rd year be filled with even more happiness and success, too.

un abrazo,

R