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!
