Hi. Today is my birthday.

Hi. Today is my birthday.

Now, as far as birthdays go this was a great one. I have to tell you though that any day that people are nice to me, the food is great and I get presents, is a good day. I guess that is why I like Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving so much. Birthdays are better however, because it is all about you.

Some people don’t like birthdays! Yeah, I don’t get it either. I suppose it is because of the inevitable march of time. Like the song says “The sword of time will pierce our skins
it doesn't hurt when it begins. But as it works its way on in the pain grows stronger...watch it grin.”

Time is something that we can’t avoid and personally I kind of like the whole idea of getting older. Over the years you develop a following of friends, family, acquaintances and hangers on that make your life if not great, then it certainly becomes interesting. Some of these people even love you, just for the person that you are. Yeah, they are nuts.

Some birthdays you look forward to with great anticipation. The one where I could legally drink and vote was one of them. The legal age back then was 21 and for me it was about two and a half years away, so it wasn’t something that I gave much thought to. I still drank of course, but like more than a few things in my life, then and now, I decided what was right and wrong, whether it coincided with the law or not. I don’t pay much attention to the news now, because most of it is geared towards selling papers or air time, and I cared even less when I was in high school. So, it came as something of a surprise when the government changed the age of legality to eighteen.

I completely missed arguably one of the major milestones of a person’s life. WTF??? Sure I could now drink and vote, but I could do so without any anticipation. I missed the night when my friends took me out and got me so drunk that I would wind up in a flower pot in a different city. That happened to my dad by the way when he was in England during the war. On the plus side, I could now write my own notes excusing me from class or for being late to school. I can remember one such note when I wrote “Please excuse me for missing class on Tuesday because I sensed an evil presence on the west side of the Pharmacy Avenue.” The vice principal just hated that note for some reason. I think he just hated losing control.

Like I said, I had a great birthday. I received best wishes throughout the day from a number of my facebook friends, calls from loved ones near and far away, as well as the immediate family that could make it over for dinner. I got to cuddle and play with my grandsons, changed a tire with the men and sat comfortably with the women and they didn’t tease me very much at all. I am still reeling from the generosity of their gift. An ipad!! I have no real use for one, but not only is it appreciated, but I am in tears just thinking about it. I do so love shinny things. Not shinny, sweaty things, just shinny things. I will have endless hours of enjoyment trying to figure out how to turn it on and off.

Yep, I have been blessed by the Gods!