This past Wednesday was my birthday as I turned 62. Wow! When did THAT happen? I still remember relieving Wayne Bailey at WNBH in the ‘70s. He couldn’t remember my name so he called me “The Kid.”
I was thinking this week how birthdays change over the years. Last week my wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday and… I really couldn’t think of anything! I said, “Is this weird?” She pointed out that we’re very blessed. My children have also helped me realize that as we get older, if we need or want something, we just go out and buy it. I used to be the gadget guy. Yes I loved all the new gadgets but now, if I don’t have it I probably don’t need it. Just a few weeks ago I needed some new polo shirts so, you guessed it, I went out and bought some myself.
I was thinking this week how Facebook has changed the way many of us celebrate birthdays. Years ago we used to get birthday cards but that seemed to taper off as we got older. I think I got three this year. Facebook has made it so much easier and it was great to see posts from so many friends and remember how we all met. Thank you all for the posts.
I still look forward to my birthday. I know some people dread their birthday coming. Is it because we’re upset that we’re getting old? I saw a meme recently that said we should embrace getting old because too many people never get that opportunity. Think of the friends we’ve all lost at too young an age. I joke with my wife that if I get to the Pearly Gates I have a list of questions like “Why was cancer a thing?” Then I realized that we’ve probably done it to ourselves with the things we eat and all these chemicals and stuff around us.
It’s true we can’t do many of the things we used to do and a night on the town now ends by 9 p.m. but you can transition into another phase. I may no longer be the busy baseball/softball dad but I can watch my grandson play.
It was nice to hear from all the kids this week even though they are all scattered around the country now. We FaceTimed when I opened the gift they all contributed to and that was nice. We had Fairhaven, Acushnet, Virginia Beach and Corpus Christi all on the same screen. Technology. What a thing!
By the way, they bought me a one year membership to Master Class. Have you heard about this? It’s online classes led by successful people covering all kinds of subjects. I’m currently taking a class led by author David Baldacci about mystery writing. It’s so cool! There’s also one on comedy led by Steve Martin. And there are so many other great ones!
Oh and let’s not forget birthday cake! It’s always a good day for cake but especially on your birthday. We stopped putting the exact amount of candles on it a few years ago. I think you reach a certain age when it becomes a fire hazard.
I hope you still celebrate your birthday and don’t dread the day. You deserve it! We all deserve a special day. In some ways I guess I never grew up. I still feel like I’m 17 but trapped inside a body that I don’t recognize anymore.
62. Wow! Remember when we thought that people in their 30s were old? I guess I’m ancient.
Catch up on all Sunday Columns by clicking here.
Leave a Reply