About 25 years ago my friend Alan came over unexpectedly. As it turns out, it was his birthday- I had forgotten it. As a joke I went over to my bookshelf and grabbed the first book I saw- Steve Martin’s “Cruel Shoes”. I had gotten this book at a yard sale a few years before.

I handed it to my friend and said “Happy Birthday!!!”

My friend opened the book and on the first page was a handwritten note to some unknown person. It said “Happy Birthday John (made up name) February 7, 1992.”

February 7th is my friend’s birthday…