March 21st is a really important day. In 1413, Henry V became King of England. In 1965, Dr. King began the third and successful civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. In 1980, J.R. Ewing was shot by an unseen assailant on the season finale of Dallas, leaving millions wondering, “Who shot JR?” March 21st is also the day that Amin celebrates his birthday. This should not be confused with the actual date he was born, which was February 18, 1985.
Because the natural world is always moving towards equilibrium, clearly having two birthdays meant Amin had to give something else up. Luckily, the U.S. government helped him out with that when they decided that he didn’t really need a middle name when he came from Iran. Since Amin’s middle name is “Zargar” and his family moved to Cleveland in the 80s, this was probably a blessing in disguise.
Having two birthdays and no middle name are some of many things that make Amin special. Others include his incredible store of compassion and empathy, his reputation as the best listener I know, his awkwardness, his asthma, and the fact that he chose to apply only to William and Mary “because that’s where Jon Stewart went.” Thank God he was accepted early decision; not only did he get to trod the same poorly designed brick pathways as one of his heroes, but I got to meet the person who would evolve from a co-research assistant to one of my best friends ever in about the span of a week. Who would have thought that geocoding schools could be such a bonding experience?
Amin has introduced me so many things that have made me smarter, made my life richer, and that I would never want to live without, including:
• The Smiths
• Megan McQuiddy (Meg, don't worry, this isn't in order)
• Interpol
• The Postal Service
• Death Cab
• Heroes
• Arrested Development
• Kanye
• 30 Rock
• Pandora
• The sushi place around the corner from his and Meg’s apartment
• The Thai place also around the corner from their apartment
• Jeff Buckley
• Punditkitchen.com
• Definition of “neoconservative” (and why neither of us can tolerate them)
• A greater appreciation for Malcolm X and Thoreau
• Stuff White People Like
• Ramadan
There are also a few things Amin has tried to introduce me to that I continue to resist, including:
• The NBA
• Miller High-Life
• Pimm’s No. 1 Cup
Amin is the friend who makes me laugh the most. From the time he threatened to mace me with his inhaler to moving my huge, old television in my apartment last September, the two of us always have a good time together. I spent his birthday evening hanging out with him, Meg, and about 15 of his really cool, genuine, and interesting friends. From knowing Amin I’m convinced that like attracts like and that someone who is as good a friend as he is will always be surrounded with good friends. Happy [belated] birthday, kiddo. You might be 24 now, but you’ll always be a little kid compared to me.
3 comments:
threatened to mace? if i remember correctly, i sprayed you in the face during a jog. and you had to stop running because you were laughing (an unforeseen effect of the macing process).
thanks for the kind words.
love you too.
i don't remember you actually spraying me. i am also laughing about how this was the first and only time we ran together in college.
Happy belated birthday to Amin who was introduced to me with specific pronunciation instructions.
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