Jon's Birthday Today

My good friend Menon, called me this evening and asked if I was free for a round of Friday golf.
A trait I admire about Menon was that he was extremely religious about his golfing Fridays.
Friday being a day already filled with meetings, I politely declined.
My tenacious friend, (who I thank God for not stopping to pester me) then ventured to ask;

"How about tonight?" hoping I'd be able to join the boys for a drink.
"It's my son's birthday today and we're going out for a meal with the family" I replied.
" Oh..? that's nice, taking the young fella for a treat huh.." Menon exclaims, "How old is your boy?" he asks.
" He would have been seventeen today" I said a matter of factly.
The short silence at the other end of the line told me he understood. Then he quietly wished my family and I all his best wishes, prayers and thoughts as he finally hangs up.

As tradition would have it, we each get to choose our favourite restaurant for dinner on our birthdays and we would spend this special evening only with each other ordering whatever catches our fancy and thoroughly enjoying ourselves.

Jon, some years ago, picked Victoria Station as one of his choices and we felt it would be appropriate to go back there for him. And we did, the place was nice and cosy and adequately private as we went about our very private but very meaningful meal on Jon's birthday.
We shared memories of Jon and we kept it celebratory. We imagined how tall he'd be, how he would boss Zane around and how he will dote on his little sister. Jon's putty around Summer.
We realised that we never stopped sharing memories of Jon, it was a daily affair, we spoke of Jon often and frequently and with joy. As if he never left. And there's some truth to that and I mentioned it at our opening prayer, Jon will always remain in each of our hearts, with its very own special memories. And nothing can change that. Not even death.
What a great seventeen birthday it would have been.
There was no need for tears tonight. It was a celebration. It's all right.
Happy Birthday Jonathan. Thanks for having us.