A long way to fly for a weekend, but I had to be there for my bud’s 40th birthday

I’ve traveled with Jared around the Middle East a few times: first on Birthright back in 2007, then to Bethlehem in 2009, Turkey in 2011 and in Cairo in 2014. Now that we’re both older and not much wiser, I do have to admit that he knows his way around.

I had a great time seeing his hip neighborhood, enjoying his favorite bars and restaurants, shopping at a record stores, and meeting so many street cats. And he can throw a great party. Happy birthday, my dude.