Broken Lives Matter

Happy birthday, honey! I never got the chance to give you the celebration you deserved--last year at this time we were moving:( Just want you to know I miss you every minute and thinking about how much I love you still brings me to tears. You were the most amazing man who had ever come into my life, and I pray you knew that. So many times I tried to tell you, but there was so much to say I couldn't get it all out right. You told me once that was hard for you too. Where ever you are, Michael...I love you so much, and I always will. The one year we had together changed me forever, and my heart will never be as full as it was with you. You would have disputed this, but I have to say God bless you, and don't ever leave me. There will be people all over this country raising a glass to you tonight; thank you for making your friends mine, even without you....they mean so much to me. I found the perfect song for us, as tough as we were and as beautiful. This one's for you!

Today was a Red Wings hockey game on a Sunday afternoon. To my memory that has never happened before; I think it's the player's and the owner's way of making up for lost time with the Lockout that lasted until January, and making it up to the fans who had to wait all that time. Either way, today's game was a treat--and I'm sure Mikel would have at least been happy for me. Though he wasn't much of a sports fan. He was more of a geek to the core--and proud to be. I encouraged him to be; God knows I fell for him anyway--and he encouraged my love of watching hockey games. Today was a nail-biter with a dramatic finish, and I'm sure I frightened my little dogs with my celebrations at least once. They're not used to hearing me shriek happily and wave my arms in the air! But I was so consumed by the play-by-play I couldn't help myself. In the apartment, whenever there was a game last year, Mikel would tell me to order any kind of pizza I wanted and mak