Stop what you’re doing. Magic Johnson is 66! The legend on a court and superstar inspiron off it, Earvin “Magic: Johnson has been responsible for a lot of smiles and motivation for six decades. Almost no one who witnessed his abrupt retirement in 1991 had imagined he’d spend the next three decades changing lives as a businessman, team owner, philanthropist, and health advocate. All this only possible because of that one person who stuck by his side. There’s a reason why the man himself credits his wife, Cookie Johnson for where he is today. She’s celebrating their story along with his birthday today and it got Magic’s ‘little sister’s’ attention too.

As Magic turns 66 on August 14, Cookie dropped a few unseen snaps of him from their most recent vacation on Instagram. Including a stunning romantic dinner on the deck of their yacht, Whisper against the sunset. The pictures were complemented with a beautiful message to him.

“Happy Birthday to my love of 33 years and my best friend of 40! ❤️” she started and we’re already swooning. It was followed by a reminder that these two have actually been together for a fifth of their lives (they began dating in the ’70s while attending Michigan State).

“I truly believe that God has brought us together, from our college days to raising three amazing kids, you’ve been the anchor of our family. I’m so grateful for every laugh, every challenge we’ve faced side-by-side, and every dream we’ve chased together.”

She further wrote, “Here’s to more memories, more adventures, and more of the beautiful, ordinary moments that make life with you so rich. I love you beyond words. Happy Birthday, my forever.” Goals, really.

Cookie’s words truly moved her 417k followers and their celebrity friends.

Jeanie Buss & More Celebrate Magic Johnson

Among the people touched by Cookie’s gesture for Magic was Jeanie Buss. But she’s been very lowkey on social media since the Lakers’ $10 billion sale. So she dropped a sweet like on this post. Unlike past birthdays of the Showtime Lakers, Jeanie didn’t make a big overt gesture this time. Nevertheless those Purple & Gold ties make Jeanie the 5x Lakers champion’s ‘sister.’

Johnson was one of the few who, instead of showing shock, openly backed Jeanie Buss’ decision to sell the Lakers to Mark Walters, the co-owner of the Dodgers with Magic. “I know that my sister Jeanie would have only considered selling the Lakers organization to someone she knows and trusts would carry on the Buss legacy,” he said in June. Only a few months earlier, he was hailing her leadership as one of the few women running a sports empire.

Buss’ little gesture still means a lot to Magic and Cookie Johnson. As do the little wishes from their friends. Another Lakers star, Pau Gasol wished him on his Stories with a throwback from the Showtime era.

Even Cedric the Entertainer, who frequently joins the Johnson on their yacht vacays wrote under Cookie’s post, “Happy Birthday my Brother!! stiil scoring baskets and making assist 🐐” 

And that’s only the surface. Fans not only flooded social media with love for Magic but they were awed by his love story with Cookie. We can’t wait to see how Magic tops that on her birthday.