Once upon a time, I knew at least one person celebrating a birthday every day in March.
Once upon a time, there were two members of my family born in March. For a while, there were three. Now, it's back down to two.

But I've written the epilogue before the actual story, in typical scatterbrained SJ fashion.

I don't have a copy of the eulogy read at his funeral, primarily because I couldn't write it myself -- I could barely write a tribute, for fuck's sake -- but I do know, as well as I know my own birthday, that he was born on March 19, 1983.

Thirty-five years ago today. But he didn't live to see thirty-five, did he, and that's the reason I'm here hosting a pity party for myself instead of paying attention in my Algebra II class and complaining about how much I hate Mondays.

March has been a shitty month for me. In fact, it takes the silver medal for Months I Dislike (August, naturally, takes the gold by a country mile).

Though I did start this post intending to talk about him, not to sit and whine about how sad I am.

Anyway. He loved Vybz Kartel. Whenever I think of him, I remember being in his car or at his house with Kartel blaring. I remember him quoting lyrics from at least six songs every time we had a conversation. I remember him teasing my mother mercilessly because Kartel offended (and still does, along with everything that isn't gospel or "conscious" music) her Christian sensibilities.

I also think of when I was much younger, about four, when he started a tradition of taking me to Burger King for a Kids' Meal (it's my first memory of him, actually).

I remember the plans we made on March 19, 2016, to go somewhere, maybe the beach, and have ourselves a good time, just the two of us and some drinks, for my 19th birthday. Then I get sad because he didn't live to see me turn 19.

He was supposed to have taught me to drive, and only didn't in summer '16 because neither of us could find the time necessary for such an endeavor.

But then, he was supposed to have done a lot of things. Oh well.

I'm gonna close this post off before I start crying. I promised myself I wouldn't cry today.

Happy birthday, Uncle. Wherever you are, I hope you're happy. 💝💞