Repost: 12.05.2002: To whom?

I found another old blog post that I enjoyed, from the Thursday night before my 21st birthday back in 2002.

Much love goes to Matty and Jordan for giving me a night of really kicking back and putting up with my shit. I didn't even have to rant about anything. Wonderful.
Much love to Whit in Texas, I wish you were here this weekend.
Much love to my apartment building for not burning down. I came home at 3 AM to messages of "Holy Shit! Your apartment building is on fire!" and the smell of smoke everywhere in our apartment. What the hell happened?
Much love to Emlyn, for being true to himself always, and for being that constant in my life.
Much love to Lesley for having crayons as fingers and a big huge smile.
Much love to the Ultimate team for giving me some outlet and passion in my life. I don't even play but you guys still get my steam off. It's ridiculous how excited I get just to write you all an email. You're all unbelievably awesome.
Much love to you, and to yours. Life is beautiful, my birthday is Monday, and there is always joy to be found in the darkest corner.
Today you are who you are today.

The party on Saturday night after this post was the one at which a certain tradition began. And Whit flew home early from Texas to Claremont to surprise me at the party. What a friend.

The bit of that post that called out to me particularly is the final line. I read it and I felt a little flutter of emotion and recognition. A quick Google revealed its source: Speak Like a Child, a late and surprisingly poignant episode of one of my favorite shows, animated or otherwise, Cowboy Bebop. A childhood Faye Valentine delivers a message of hope to herself via Betamax nearly 70 years later:

Good morning, me. Did you sleep well? Did you wake up feeling good? Did the light, and the wind, and the smell, and the sound, all seem like they're brand new and fresh this morning? Is each and every cell in your whole body awake and alive?

Now, today you are who you are today. See you're still me, but you're a newer version. Myself ten years from now, it's so far away its almost impossible to imagine. Am I alone or is there a wonderful person next to me?

Knowing me I'm sure you're causing all kinds of trouble for lots of different people. I'm sorry, I don't mean to but it's alright, that's part of life, too, isn't it?

You're not perfect but you've got a lot to give so remember I'll always be cheering you on.

I still love it.