Ten years ago, I threw Alin a surprise birthday party at his house. We weren’t dating yet. We had just been “talking” for about a month. I was 18 years old then, immature, but a romantic sap. I loved writing songs. I especially LOVED writing songs for guys I crushed on. On July 19, 2000, I took Alin to the top of a mountain (dirt pile) in Phoenix, brought my guitar and a picture frame holding a song (see actual scan below). I handed him the song in a picture frame, pulled out my guitar and sang it to him. I don’t remember much after that, but I did ask him recently what went through his mind when I did that. And it was something along the lines of “awkward”! Why Alin continued to ask me to be his girlfriend that night is beyond me. Shoot, I wouldn’t have asked me out, that’s for sure.
After singing on the mountain top, and making the boyfriend-girlfriend thing official, we headed over to his house where his family and friends lurked in the shadows and “surprise!”ed Alin for his birthday. And we partied the night away. Here are some pictures from then. I was still using one time use film cameras then. Don’t judge me.
Everything you’ve seen is my own personal favorite memory from Alin & my life together. Now I have asked Alin’s family members to write down their favorite memories with him.
I will always remember the games. Chess, basketball in our front yard, and our Friday night poker games with Sardella’s pizza! Even though you mostly won them, it was always fun.
Coming soon!
Happy 30th birthday, baby! I love you now more than I ever have!
Happy 30th Alin, 4 kids by 30…consider yourself accomplished 
) But you are lucky to have someone like Alin, he always put a smile on our faces at school and i’m sure he does the same to you now. I remember riding to school in his new Jetta blasting Romo music lol We thought we were soo cool 
by Caroline
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