Dear Mateo

Happy Birthday, brother!

Someone recently asked for words for her birthday. I thought it was a great idea but mine's not for a long time so I'm stealing it here to give to you. Here are some words I'm giving you for your birthday, for one reason or another:

bliss
technical difficulties (Sam's favorite thing to say)
siempre (I love to say this)
suitcase
spirit
gelato
whipsmart (because you are)
discover
google (the number, not the site)
sparkle
breeze
monarchs (butterflies, not the rulers)
haberdashery
sequential
melodic
aldena (because we loved her so & laughed)
frankness (get it?)
whistle
mania (especially around Christmas Eve)
imagine
buckstus
red wheelbarrow (so much depends on it, I hear)
machu picchu
manana
amen

Don't worry, there's a real present heading to your door.

{feel free to add your words to Matt here in the comments}

Comments

[Christie]

I love the words macho picho. Don't know what they mean, but they make me so happy to say them.

Happy birthday to Annie's brother!

[Matt]

Thanks for your thoughtfully-chosen words, Annie. I like 'technical difficulties', sequential, and melodic. And bliss. Aldena, too - I just googled her full name and there's nothing out there, so maybe we can collaborate on an Aldena-appreciation. Or an Aldena blogathon.
And I just opened your package, and all I can say is that we must be on the same wavelength. The Roberto Bolaño book's been on my mental list for a while, so thanks for letting me check it off! And I *love* "The Company" (film) - the outdoor dance scene with the storm is one of my all time favorites. I look forward to listening to the soundtrack.

Much love,
Matt

[Bridget]

I love your clarification with the words google and monarch. You were such a cute little girl too!

[cbentley]

I'd like to add a few words for Matt's life of words and words of life:

Faffy
Anteaters
Vinegar on everything
D'owone popiko
Charlie Brown
Mad Hatter
"Our Town" George
Sightreading
Genius
Cinema = Paradiso

Love you, God bless, Ma

[Anonymous]

Your dad reminded me that the words I wrote for Matt's birthday were not all his. I now recall that Chris was the one who did the d'owone popiko. Sorry, Matt! You boys' lives become a bit mixed in memory for me. Also, it was ARMADILLOS (Mimi) you loved, not anteaters. Forgive. Love, Ma

[dayna]

love love love the words. :)