June 30, 2010

My dearest,

How does one say happy birthday to the Devil? How do I say happy birthday to you?

I can say it in Chinese. 生日快乐! I can say it in German. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!

I can even say it – given the host of this year’s World Cup – in Afrikaans. Gelukkige Verjaarsdag!

I can say it with flowers – a nice, big bouquet to surprise you with, that turns your cheeks red after the delivery boy leaves and you realise you have to bring it back to the office and all your colleagues are gonna ask who’s that from, a secret admirer? Wolf whistles and plenty of teasing. An embarrassed Devil is a rather adorable Devil.

I can say it with a shopping spree. The SALE is on. Oh dear, oh my. Your favourite brands all lined up at the departmental store – Hugo Boss and Gucci and Bally and Paul Smith and Burberry and more. A Devil equipped with more than one platinum credit card is a rather dangerous Devil.

There are so many ways one can say happy birthday, it’s true. But how do I say happy birthday to someone so irrepressibly cute? How do I say happy birthday to you?

I say it by treating today, your birthday, no different than any other day. It’s all the same to me. Today is no more special than the other 364. For, the truth is, every day with you is a very special day indeed, every moment a gem to be treasured. There need not be any celebration, any surprise party, any lavish gift – not when every day with you is a celebration, every day is a discovery and a surprise, and I can think of no life more lavish and fulfilled than one spent with you, my sweet Devil.

Happy Birthday, you.

Yours, ever and always.