I guess it started about 35 years ago, when it dawned on me, sunk in, that my buddy Pat Welsh and I had birthdays a day apart, he 3/23, me 3/22.

Friendship forged during the college years, became immensely more powerful, enduring after college. He and me and three, four other guys, getting together pretty much every year. Separated by hundreds of miles, but connected by our shared experience, common love of each other, and our lives unfolding.

Always picking up, each and every time, like we were together all the time. Everybody having successes, and failures, too, but common ground common purpose, love, kept us together.

We lost Pat to cancer seven years ago, when he succumbed after a three year battle with cancer. Our friendships remain, and our love of each other, and Pat too, endures.

Welshy’s spirit continues to burn bright; the memories, the laughs, the humor all continue on when we are together, like he’s still around. But he’s not. Only in spirit, only in our memories that will never end.

Happy birthday, Pat, much love!

Keep everything together up there until we’re together again, and we’re gonna continue to “live the dream”, in your honor.