to my friend

That young face with its tight lipped smile and long unruly hair is my dear friend Martin as he was when I met him more than a decade ago.

More than a decade.

For over a third of my life Martin has been a fixture in it.

Whether near or far he's always in my thoughts. I always wish him the very best (as he truly deserves it).

In my life there has been no other friend like him...

10 years or so ago I thought he was cute... today I think he's handsome.

His face isn't quite as youthful... his hair is short now and touched with gray...

his smile has loosened.
his eyes have softened.
his heart has grown.

his laugh though, remains the same.

To my friend Martin on his birthday...

I wish you only the best in this life and the next.

(picture NOT taken by me. picture shamelessly stolen from his myspace. he's a good friend, I'm a naughty one)