Though Denis and I throughout our 26 years of partnership have never celebrated one another’s birthday, it is not because we disparage the anniversary for any reason; rather that we collectively respond that every day is a celebration. Having said that about our approximate 10,000 days together I believe Denis warrants his annual slap on the back and expression of good – and hopefully repeated – returns of fortune.

The assessment of another is invariably associated with the nature of the relationship. Ours is a boutique of communions. Since we met in 1996 we have commingled (and roughly in this order) drinking, smoking, dining, travel, real property, renovation, law practice, investments, estate planning and old age. While in moments such as these one would hardly expect to hear anything other than favourable account, I can truthfully say that it has been the best years of my life. And uniquely over that entire period we have spent most of it together, by which I mean not only during the day but throughout the day. Ours is a proximate association.

So much of our convention has been serendipitous. I include even those moments when I quite literally faced death. Those otherwise morose encounters were sparked by indescribable recovery thanks largely to Denis’ efforts and contributions. He also came to the instant aid of the law practice when a sudden misfortune struck my former legal assistant. I wager that being a Commissioner of Oaths under appointment from the Law Society of Upper Canada was not initially a post he either predicted or aspired to.

Many times I have pondered what it is the cements us and heightens our correspondence and conviviality. There is no question that my superfluity and his banality are putatively a contrary allegiance. He’s Roman Catholic, I’m Anglican. He is younger, I am older. He has French Canadian heritage from Ontario (les Franco-Ontariens); I was born in Montréal (un Québequois). And while I thrill to the delight of bafflegab and schmaltz, I admire his unequivocal bilingualism and native capacity for spelling. More importantly we have a facility of mutual performance. For whatever reason we enjoy many of the same things – but significantly within the scope of broad generalization not specifically in detail. Food for example is a mutual passion but we prefer quite independent ingredients and concoctions. The same may be said of music, art and literature.  That is, while we regularly correspond we have preserved our independence. And lastly I note we both quit drinking and smoking about the same time. I mention the latter functionality because I suspect that if it were otherwise the distinction would contaminate the relationship to a degree.

So, here we are, another anniversary. From one old fogey to another, best wishes, Denis, and many happy returns of the day! Je t’aime!

Billy