L'chaim (לחיים) is a Hebrew phrase translating to "to life" 

Forsooth thee dear E_
and of course E_
who most like a star student as well,
who both felt impatient to sever home ties
after graduating with honors
at Harriton High School.

Circa: ~ Early/mid March 1996
within the womb, when your mother still a Zison
she self administered a pregnancy test
from a do it yourself kit offered
by a facilitator at planned parenthood
in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

No matter then just an inchoate embryo
from the first cell division (after fertilization)
until a more developed stage reached
appellation of fatherhood
(whether deserved or not)
linkedin with me
and my dirty deed done dirt cheap.

Though conceived out of wedlock
(which premarital sex and reproduction
seemed to be the rule
rather than exception those/these days,
and when marriage an afterthought
courtesy many men and/or women),
which pledging of troth essentially
ought not alter that biological
connection of human bondage
your mother wanted to seal the deal.

Impossible mission to recollect
when your mother ceased menstruation
and became gravid with thee, an inchoate
collection of cells approximately
nine weeks after fertilization,
(or roughly eleven weeks of pregnancy)
and lasts until birth, nevertheless
she attended (and I accompanied her)
when antenatal care
and antepartum care appointments
got scheduled at then Suburban General Hospital
where mother got examined as she healthily segued
from one trimester to the next.

No need for me
(once upon a time
daddy's little girl -
or Munchkin, an appellation -
unsure if you cared
for said term of endearment)
to bring back fond memories
(gag me with a spoon – ha!)
of those trouble free first couple of years,
when ushered into the circle game -
a wonderful song by Joni Mitchell
said she wrote "The Circle Game"
for Neil Young
who wrote an earlier song
about lamenting his youth,
especially at the rites of turning 21,
thus "The Circle Game"
references youth, nostalgia,
regret, hope, and the passage of time,
and the tone and mood
fluctuate between nostalgia, regret, and hope.

Anyway, we exalted
as thee attained and surpassed
some general milestones,
which unfortunately
did not include height nor weight,
but thee became the apple of our eyes,
which myopia thee did inherit,
though visionary masterminds
affected breakthroughs whereby
occipital orbs inherited a vision impairment
even those young ones
deemed legally blind (not blonde)
blessed and gifted with some degree of sight.

We entrusted eyesight
examinations to Doctor Paul Halpern,
who by the way officially retired
almost a year ago,
after spending the bulk
of his working years as an optometrist,
which current minor plight
necessitates us to locate
another visionary practitioner.

That faculty of sight
(foresight and insight in your case)
bore witness to a star student,
who engineered her own
storied vocational ambitions
and early on thee
did exhibit academic
high achievement status
unlike the author of these words
and qualified for ample financial aid
to attend The University of Pennsylvania,
and once again maintained
a superb grade point average
while pursuing masters degree
simultaneously being employed
with the B Corp
(as you know A Certified
B Corporation (B Corp)
constitutes a for-profit company
verified by B Lab
to meet high standards
of social and environmental performance,
transparency, and legal accountability.)

Lady luck in your court
while living in the dormitory
whereat ye initiated 
(please correct me if mistaken)
a handsome young 
freshman from Puerto Rico,
whose aura, charisma, dogma...
unbeknownst to him
then met his future soul mate,
(who yours truly -
me could vouchsafe
for possessing a plethora of strengths),
and how compatible
both of you seem with each other

productively pursuing self reliance,
while enriching your marriage
with amazing grace.

This electronic missive
meant as a hearty congratulations
for sticktoitiveness (ah - a real word)
and each other 
complement and supplement
the sum total to create unbridled love
that will last the test of time,
"Neither snow nor rain
nor heat nor gloom of night
stays these intrepid young adults
from the swift completion
of their appointed rounds"
independently and in tandem with each other.

Adieu from two gametes

who chanced to meet each other
at the ampulla
while traversing the fallopian tube.

Today - happy brrr...earth day
and a hip hip hip hooray
for accomplishments 
promising an eternal lifeday
and who will surprise may
find a little one on the march
to a bundle of joy though thee nay-say
a definitive absolute zero desire
to be fruitful and multiply
despite how civilization appears 
to be headed one-way
toward doom and gloom.