February 4

The emotional commonalities between people act often almost as an invisible string of connectivity tying all of humanity together. Albeit a strong sentence with an equally strong sentiment, it's true. We all love, we all grieve, we all exist. And, all of this occurs on a repetitive linear organizational timeline known as the calendar year.

As odd as it may sound, I love the calendar. January 1 to December 31, all 365 days in the same order, every year, without fail (excluding leap year obviously). This of course includes today's date, February 4th, which I have lived through 18 of. They’ve been a series of Mondays and Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thursdays and Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays, on repeat. And every year when February 4th comes around, it stays for 24 hours and then leaves again until the next year when it repeats its mandatory and unwavering schedule and tasks of simple existence. It has never been a memorable date and I cannot remember anything specifically interesting or fun occurring for the time I have spent with it. As far as I know, it's been a mundane day, all 18 of them thus far. Days in which I could've been sick, or had a test, and I'm sure the list could go on and on. Or, I could've just simply existed and allowed the day to pass me by like all the rest of the dates which I have not yet given specific importance to.  

This year, February 4th has finally been given the importance it's been waiting, unbeknownst to me, 18 years for in my life. Furthermore, the addition of Feb 4 to my repertoire of favorite dates coincided with the addition of a very special human into my life. Today is Jack's birthday. Birthdays are my favorite holidays, which I understand may come across as conceited but allow me to explain. Birthdays, in my opinion, are the most selfless of holidays. There is an outpouring of love in the form of calls and texts from distant loved ones, and rarely ever a shortage of kind words and thoughts ranging from those you may know intimately to those you haven't heard from since the last birthday, but regardless the relationship is still there. It's so difficult to feel unloved or uncared for on your birthday when you're surrounded by people who strive for loving relationships, and who acknowledge the importance of community. Alternatively, it is so difficult to withhold a birthday text or card from those you truly love. Loving one another in the capacity we can as humans is such a gift, even if it's demonstrated in the form of a birthday text gif. 

Jack (aside from Julia of course) is my best friend, despite the fact that a year ago today I had no idea who he was. Concurrently I had no idea how much he would come to mean to me, which after prayerful reflection I have come to realize has been a specific testament to how God has moved and placed people so gently and perfectly into my life. I've known many Jacks in my life, but none have had even close to the effect on me that my Jack has. To put to paper all that he is is simply a disservice to the complexity of the man that Jack is currently, and the man I am confident he will grow to be over this next year and every year to follow. Jack is someone that you can't not find genuine joy beaming from at any given moment. Knowing and loving him, truly, is like feeling the warm sun on a cold day, and embracing the warmth as it washes away any bitterness within. I love all that he is, all that he embodies and represents, all the light he projects so proudly into this world. How could I not, how could anyone not? Being blessed enough to exist at the same time as him, much less be loved and held dear by him, has opened my eyes to the good that exists in the world, despite the prevalence of the bad. Not another soul compares to him. Jack is completely and utterly himself, which is precisely what acts as the magnet that draws, and practically begs, people towards him. He is kind, and gentle, and respectful, and never one without the other, and never in any other order. Being with him is to witness the most tender of loves. The love he has for his family and his faith, the love he has for his sport and his school and his friends, the love he has for me, it is entirely what Jack is, it's seemingly what courses through his veins. He is love.  

And so, because of him, year after year as February 4th repeats its annual routine of Mondays and Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thursdays and so on, it will forever have a different, more valuable, more intimate, meaning. He will always be the person who allowed February 4th to separate itself from the rest and hold a position in my life as a day of blissful celebration and gratitude for all that it has brought me in the form of him. I am beyond excited to celebrate Jack and all that he is, and furthermore, all that he will be and accomplish over this next year of life. Coincidentally, I also feel overwhelmed with gratitude for my own life, as odd as that may be. Simply for the fact that I have been blessed enough to have individuals in my life who can make the routine days of the year so incredibly important. Important enough that they have had the unique ability to alter my perspective and to urge an outpouring of love for another person as a human, but also as someone who holds such a special place in my heart. 

My sweet Jack, here's to celebrating you on this day and highlighting this day in my planner, for as many years as God plans for me to. You mean the world to me, and to just about every soul that crosses your path. You are my favorite in every category.  

February 4, 2025: 

Still my favorite person, still my favorite day, and you still mean the absolute world to me. My calendar, and life, are so much brighter with our birthdays and anniversaries and plans to see the world together, scribbled on every page and typed on every device. 

You truly are my very best friend- 80 more birthdays would never be enough to adequately celebrate the person that you are, and the person you are becoming. Buon ventesimo compleanno, amore mio. Ci vediamo a Roma! 

Fallon