They Say It’s Your Birthday

As another Birthday approaches for my friend Mark Wilson (Saturday, December 16th), I started to reminisce about how long we have been friends.  I recall some of the many things we've done (some of it not fit for this blog) and why our friendship has lasted.

Here are just a few reasons that Wilson is one and has been one of my best friends for almost 30 years.

!:  The practical jokes we have played on each other over the years, like making each other mess up on the air and me hiding behind our first General Manager Keith Tilkens pretending that I hadn't done anything to Mark.  (I of course was guilty as sin)

2.  Helping me move all my s*** from Laurel to Billings (even when I was not prepared or fully packed up yet)

3:  The countless times we've cracked a 12 pack and talked about life, love and now kids.

4:  When I moved away in 2002, Mark always called me and even took the time to let me know he was at the airport in Minneapolis, if I had time to drive over from Owatonna (they were on their way to Mexico)

5: Being there for me and making the trip to Havre when my dad passed away 2 years ago this month and then 4 months later coming to Malta when my sister Angie passed away  (let's face it, if a guy drives to Havre and to Malta in the course of a few months - he's definitely a friend you want around)

Over the years Wilson and I have always agreed that there is a line in the song Standing Knee Deep in a River (Dying of Thirst) by Kathy Mattea that rings true, "The friends I can count on I can count on one hand, with a left over finger or two"

I can truly say with all of my heart, I am glad that I can count him as part of that hand and one of my very best friends.

I love you Mark Wilson and hope that you have a great Birthday (I'll see you Saturday)