Happy Happy, Manoli!

{l-r: Manoli, me, Em}

This is Manoli.

I've known Manoli since we were fourteen, and he just had a birthday.

I'm a big Manoli fan for lots of reasons. Some of them are:

1. He doesn't know how to ride a bike. He wasn't interested when he was a little kid, and so he never learned.

2. His relationship with his family is inspiring. If Dewey and I are half as close as Manoli and his little brother Alex, we are doing really well.

3. Manoli always sees the best in everything. Both people and situations.

4. I am really nerdy, and all my friends are really nerdy, but Manoli takes being a nerd to a whole new level. He owns it, though. It's why we love him.

5. Manoli is one of the most trustworthy people I know. He will never, ever, let you down, and you can always depend on him to be there when you need him.

6. Manoli is the only friend who has actually lobbied for a birthday post. Two days after his birthday, we're on gchat, and he's all "hey Abbie, isn't it time you write up my birthday post? You're getting kind of late." He is shameless. But in a good way.

Happy Happy, Manoli!

I'm so glad you were born.