I think of you every day, although today was more difficult for Mom and me. We spent the day in New York and we spoke about you. We thought about seeing "Star Wars," as that would have been something good for us to do with you. But in the end we didn't, but you were with us anyway and you always will be. We love you very much.

While we were at the Met yesterday, Mom and I were constantly talking about how you would have appreciated the show of Roger Fenton's photographs. I couldn't help but laugh at myself, thinking about how hard I would have been trying to get you to finish absorbing every last detail of each photograph.

I think of Jonathan and I never met him. I do feel like I know him a little though, but thats only because when I am lucky enough to hear Josh talk about him, the things I learn about him are memorable. So, I feel lucky to know him a little, even though he doesn't know me.

Thought of Johnathon and brought it up to Josh tonight. At Adam's in NYC. I don't know why I think of someone I will not, did not, can not meet... just that I do.

Eventually my shame in watching something with politics so backwards as the WWF's caught up with me and I left it behind. Even though I know we shared a lot in politics, you somehow managed to appreciate so many things at a basic, emotional level. Now I keep coming across studies of punk culture from twenty-five years ago that point to the contradictions destining it to all sell out. I guess what I want to say is that you are the exception. I don't know how not to do things self-consciously, but I think of you often when I reflect on that. So thank you for providing an example. I hope you know that everyone who ever scratched their head at you did it in some part in appreciation.

Happy (belated) birthday, J-Dog. I was camping in Death Valley on Saturday, when everyone else back East got together to celebrate. I think you would've liked it there. The sun's not bad at this time of year, and the place is filled with the lore of ill-fated pioneers trying to get across, the Indians who watched them, and the bandits that robbed them. We visited a ghost town. Your imagination could bring things like this alive, like you saw it happening before your eyes. Wish you were there to tell me what you saw. Thinking of you all the time. -Dan

Happy birthday J-dog! We went out for dinner with your parents and brother on Saturday and had a good time thinking about you. I talked to your dad for awhile and now know the ins and outs of zipper manufacturing as well as the importation of vinyl bags. I'm studying a lot of business type stuff at law school so I found the information pretty interesting. Afterwards we saw The Goonies at the Sunshine theatre. It was funny because it's a kids' movie but the audience was a bunch of twentysomethings. Despite having not seen it for years I still remembered practically every line verbatim and had to restrain myself from speaking them out loud. Afterwards we went to Katz's and then Botanica which is the first bar I ever went to in NYC. Your brother took Nick, Marisa, and myself there when we drove up to visit you for the first time at Sloan-Kettering. It was all around a pretty nice evening and I'm sure that you would have enjoyed it. My only regret is that you weren't there to celebrate with us (which is odd because it was your birthday we were celebrating). It's strange to be around your parents and your brother at the same time, I feel like I can see where so many of your mannerisms came from. It's almost like you're there with us. Miss you buddy, miss you a lot.

Happy Birthday Jonathan, I was sitting around thinkng about different stories. Remember the time we downloaded that video game and changed the sound files so that every time the characters punched or kicked each other you would hear our voices yelling out lines from the movie Hellraiser? I miss you.

You touch others, folks like me who wish we knew you, without even knowing it. Now when I pass Stand Up NY or CBGB's or the Ramones come on I smile thinking of this young, funny and thoughtful, beautiful young man. Happy Birthday, please know your presence is felt by so many. Catie Lazarus

Happy birthday J-Dawg. We still miss you as much as ever.