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Real Birthday Presents

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Things like this are what make my birthdays happy. My 9-year-old self would be a little disappointed (mainly because birthday wishes ≠ Legos or Hot Wheels). Nineteen-year-old me might even shrug his shoulders. I don't care. Things change, and so do the things I value. As the anti-materialistic saying goes: There's much more to life than toys and money. 

I'm intensely grateful for my friends and family. These are the types of people who say "Good morning!" and sincerely mean it. They stick with people like me and - if I don't see them often enough in person - swing by my Facebook page from time to time.

Nicknames from this year's birthday wishes:

- Tiny (The gold standard since 2004.)
- Brother 
- Johnny (Favored amongst my cousins.)
- Big John
- Johnathon (Favored amongst my parents and their siblings. Still not recognized by spell check, BTW.)
- Mr. Photographer
- Cuz
- J.Nel
- Little John
- Favorite Brother-in-Law (he only has one)
- Johnny Nels

These are the names by which I am known and by which I feel loved. 

I don't care what my birth certificate says. It's just a number, and it's also just a name.