For the first time in seven years I made it through the day today only crying once. Wow. This is a tough, tough day for me. It will be this way probably for the rest of my life too. Why? Today would have been my friend Kevin's 29th birthday. I miss him as much now as I did seven years ago when he died. God, I can't believe it's been seven years already. Sigh. This is going to sound really corny but on some level I know he's always right here with me. For example, the other night I was on the way home after a particularly tough day and as I was getting close to home I saw a shooting star. See, I consider shooting stars to be our signal. His way of letting me know he's not too far away. The reason being the night I found out he died, after my father and godfather broke the news and went home, I was sitting on our little balcony area at the apartment talking with one of my room mates. As we were talking about Kev I just happened to glance up and saw a long shooting star go streaking across the sky. Ever since then I've always considered that to be our thing. So today he would have been 29. Knowing Kev probably would have been married with a kid or two by now. The proper slightly right leaning Democrat. Maybe he would be holding office right now. Who knows. God I miss him so much.

The weather today reflected my mood. Gray, rainy and downright crappy. It was hard to get out of bed this morning. I just wanted to throw the covers over my head and call in sick. But I didn't, even though I could use a mental health day. Hmmmm, something to think about in the next few weeks.

The story of Zoe Koplowitz is so inspiring I had to pass it on to you. Please read about this amazing woman with diabetes and MS who finished the New York Marathon this past weekend. Truly inspiring.