My Birthday Speech

"I 'll miss you." She drew me close and gave me a hug, and I assured her I 'd be back sooner than she 'd realize. She then told me that she loved me.

VI. When I was born he taught me to be the strongest person I could be and to do my absolute best at everything I try.

I, David Kaufman, leave the student body of Sherman oaks CES with a message. Thank you. Thank you for being my second family. For eight years you raised me as one of you own. I didn't always love you in fact our first day together I cried. You seemed so unwelcoming, I feared the thought of you but in reality what I feared was change. Throughout our time together you've taught me countless lessons but most important of all you taught me how to change. Through the theatre department you opened my eyes to stage and turned me into a thespian. In athletics I tested my boundaries and gave it my all Not just for myself but the name on the front of the jersey. In clubs and organizations you allowed to me to flourish, be innovative and grow into a leader.

After hours of waiting there was a knock at your door. You jumped up, excitedly bouncing over to it, but once it opened your expression fell.

Many times in my life, I have received many lessons from my father. My father is a special man, he's nurtured me, cared for me in a way no man will ever get to do. My dad is someone who I can always say has been there for me, and i couldn't ever imagine life without him. Yet, there is one thing i can't ever forget. He's an alcoholic. My "dad" was never there, the alcohol was. There were times when i just couldn't believe to smell the alcohol on his breath. My whole life, my dad was in the Navy, so we moved around a lot. We never really had a home until i was around 7 years old, so through that time we struggled to have a real family due to us living out of boxes. When we bought our home in Harbor Ridge, things changed. My dad was really there, he went to my sporting events, he was home for dinner, and he was even there to tuck me into bed

“Like having bonus kids. Didn’t intend on having them but don’t wanna give them back.“ Chris said about having stepkids. Chris Becker also has a son named Tyler Becker. He isn’t his blood related son either. He was adopted when he was about nine years old maybe a little bit younger or older. He was married to Tyler’s birth mom, but she later made wrong choices and Tyler was taken away from her. Chris then adopted him. Chris is very thankful to have the experience of having kids, and in some ways he felt it was hard to raise three kids all at different ages. He said “We’re always worrying about them. It will never go away it, just won’t. They are little humans running around the house not able to take care of themselves depending on us. Look at Tyler, he is twenty-two years old, I still worry about him. It never goes away because you raised them their whole life, little on up. Not being able to do it themselves. It’s a good kind of worry though. It’s really hard to explain, you’ll understand it when you’re older and have kids.”

“I’ll make sure to call you everyday and, get straight A’s.” I say putting a smile on my face.

Immediately, as they crawled out, the mother came to hug me and said, with tears in her eyes, “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“It is going to be okay, we will get through this as a family.” Mom said, softly.

I looked back at Mom standing at the gate, happily waving. I half-smiled and yelled, “I love you! Bye!”

AWAKE IN AN INSTANT, I WHIPPED MY COVER OFF AND DOVE FOR MY CLOSET, ALREADY ATTEMPTING TO SILENCE THE SOBS STARTING DEEP IN MY CHEST. AS I SWUNG THE DOOR CLOSED, THE DOOR TO MY ROOM WAS BARRELLED INTO BY A DRUNKEN MAN WHO I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO CALL MY FATHER. THE HINGES GAVE A SICKENING CRACK, THOUGH TO BE FAIR IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT AFTER ALL OF THOSE DRUNKEN NIGHTS ANY DOOR IN OUR HOUSE WAS STILL STANDING.

When I told her that your mother died, she cried. She remembered the time we visited your parents and you. Your dad caught a gaggle of fish and your mom deboned and fried them. That was her favorite memory of Michigan.

“Fine, but before I do it, I just want you to know that you are my best friend in the whole world and I’m gonna miss you so much and that I wish I didn’t do but it was for the best, in your case at least.”

At age three I said “I love you mommy.” At age seven I said, “Mom, stop kissing my cheek!” At age fifteen I say, “You’re so annoying – I can’t wait to move out!” At age eighteen, I’ll be saying “I miss home.” At age twenty-seven I’ll be saying “I miss my mom.” At age forty I’ll be saying “I miss you so much; I wish you didn’t have to go.” My mom is the sun to my shine.

My mom told my brothers and I to look at the computer. On the computer there