Happy Birthday, Jason

Happy Birthday, Jason.
It’s your favorite day of the year.
Bigger than Christmas, for sure.

We will visit your grave.
Where there is still no marker because a pandemic has halted the stone from arriving.
We will go to lunch. The place you always took me – many times throughout each year – simply because I liked it.
We will see the latest superhero movie in your honor.

You always loved that people were usually still off work for your birthday. Still able to gather. Still in a festive mood.
And your parents never lumped Christmas and your birthday together.
The day Jason Hall was born was worthy of being its own event.
Birthday gifts in non-Christmas wrapping paper. Candles to blow out (there would be 50 this year!) People taking their turn as we go around the table saying, “I love Jason because…”

It’s your favorite day of the year.
Not so much mine, anymore.
It’s heavy for me. Pretty sad, I admit.
But I like remembering that it was always your favorite.
And I like remembering you.
It’s the day after Christmas. Your day. Happy Birthday, Jas.