Happy Birthday Adam G Poole

In September 1990 I met Adam Poole.  Those who know me - who know us - you know the story.  Today Adam would have been 34 years old.  Today, if it was like any other birthday, we would have celebrated with good food, strong drinks and foolishness surrounded by friends and loved ones.  But those who know - you know today has not been like any other day for almost 9 years.  Today we celebrate what would have been - what could have been - been another year in the life of Adam Poole.

In cleaning out an old chest my mom found a poem that I wrote September 17 1990.  Title "Best Friends".  Funny how one forgets what they have written, thoughts they treasured so deeply they felt the need to write them down only to bury them in a chest - my chest / heart - for 23 years.  Funny how vulnerable and open we are in our youth -- how easily we feel and express love, without regret.  Sad how we lose this innocence as we age.  Today would have been the 34th year of my best friend.  I have not befriended anyone else as easy or loved a man so deeply as I loved Adam G. Poole.  And I know I won't.  Because the love you experience in your youth - pure, innocent, unassuming, expecting nothing ... the walls of age and heartache experienced block that kind of love from happening again.  When I met Adam I knew I had met my best friend.  And in such confidence I chose not to listen to the teacher but to write this in #2 pencil September 17, 1990:

My Best Friend
What are 'best friends'?
'Best friend' is a friendship that will never end.
You meet unexpectedly
Expecting nothing
Never knowing what will be
But positive that 'best friends' are you and me
Everyday something new to share
Confiding everything in each other as only best friends would dare
Today is my favorite day - a day I didn't want to end
Because today we decided that we were best friends.

Happy birthday Adam Grayson Poole.  Happy birthday to my best friend.
Always,
Phoebe