May 16th, 1989 was a very important day. (See photos -- some habits never change.)
He had a big brother who liked to help...
Being the younger brother meant wearing hand-me-downs...
He was always an animal lover...
He went exciting places...
(That's Smokey's brother in the dress whites with his new bride next to him. At left are uncle and aunt, at right dad and mom with Andrew in front. Smokey and I are in the back.)
He did exciting things...
(Insert ominous music here. It appears that the photos between 1994 and 2002 were digitized into a proprietary format that is not readable my my 2008 Mac. Must get on that. Fast-forward to 2002.)
He and I trekked around New York City in the summers of 2002 and 2003, courtesy of Andrew going to school there.
We went to NYC again in 2004 with his high school drama group. I wonder where those pictures are?
He loved computers and electronic gadgetry of all kinds. For awhile
he was into digital music.
He composed.
He experimented with digital art...
...and became proficient with PhotoShop.
Like every other teenager he had a Black Period, but survived it.
His senior year in high school had some memorable moments, including yet another trip to NYC (I declined the 24-hour bus ride -- one way! -- this time and stayed home.)
He went to prom...
He graduated...
He still loves animals...
He is helpful and fun and has a wonderful sense of the absurd.
But mostly, he is just Matthew.
...and I knit for him.
Happy birthday, big guy!
Happy birthday! Have yourself a nice piece of cake, Matthew!
Posted by: tinebeest | 17 May 2010 at 01:20 AM
Awww - great post. And what was the baseball shirt with the tape all over his face about? Inquiring minds...
Posted by: mary lou | 17 May 2010 at 07:19 AM
Oh, what a fabulous - utterly fabulous - photo tribute to a Fine Young Man. Happy Birthday, Matthew! It's clear you have a wonderful sense of yourself and your place in the world. Here's to many, many more eventful, exciting, and interesting years. :-)
Posted by: Kym | 17 May 2010 at 07:56 AM
Happy birthday, Matthew!
LOL - those pictures are great.
Posted by: Chris | 17 May 2010 at 08:39 AM
Aw! These are wonderful photos!! Happy Birthday, Matthew!!
Posted by: Vicki | 17 May 2010 at 12:04 PM
His wonderful sense of the absurd is my favorite part. Happy Birthday Matthew!
Posted by: Jeanne | 17 May 2010 at 12:24 PM
He's grown up to be a great guy!
Posted by: Amy | 17 May 2010 at 01:17 PM
Happy birthday! What a great boy, and what a patient cat.
Posted by: Lucia | 17 May 2010 at 02:17 PM
A very happy birthday to you!
Posted by: Heather | 17 May 2010 at 09:53 PM
Happy Belated Birthday, Matthew! ( I'm late because I was recovering from my own on the 17th. It took a day to prepare myself mentally beforehand and a few afterwards to recover from the screaming and denial. I'm not 21...)
Posted by: Sheepish Annie | 19 May 2010 at 06:45 PM