Today is my birthday. What's in a birthday? The day we celebrate our birth,
an anniversary for the glorious day that we beat the odds and entered this
spectacular ball of dirt we call Earth. Our world. Plenty of bah-humbug to
go around and this note isn't about that. I like my birthday. The very
thought is almost self-centered; full of conceit and snobbery.
At my 46th birthday, I am sitting on my deck, overlooking full summer foliage, comfortably reclining, sipping morning coffee amidst mid 70's temperatures. Birds chirp, dog snoops, squirrels rustle and I type. Can't remember each individual birthday but some stick out more than others.
On this date in 1975 I remember sitting on the porch of Bunk 26 at Camp Airy in Thurmont, Maryland. A rustic brown faded structure with plenty of windows and dust, front porch about 4 X 10 with hard worn dirt covered planks. The lower camp, new side. The front porch had black iron pipes to keep you from falling over and I remember playing on that very rail thinking "ten years old, double digits." I can almost taste the humid, hot air of that day. Didn't have many friends at camp, but my baby brother was there as well. Letter from my parents at mail call and cake at dinner. Happy Birthday John!
I remember my 30th. Already had a family. Laura, my wife of just four years at that time planned a surprise party for me. As usual my obsession with control won over and I found out about the party before the date. While I didn't let on, it was hard to be truly surprised. But still, I remember the joy of having my two sons, ages 2 and 3 months present. I, at 30 was a proud father and proud of my accomplishments, however small they were. The very next summer, at 31, I was going to start medical school although I didn't yet have that knowledge. But it was a little light within me and the desire was growing daily. I was also happy to have celebrated with my closest friends and family, that day, with my favorite band playing my favorite songs. Swilltones at the Brittany.
There are a hundred reasons I don't remember my 20th. But I remember my 19th. I was on the west coast, somewhere in Santa Cruz, California in the house of a deadhead freak with my friend Brian Beziat. We had just left Berkeley the night before, having seen three Grateful Dead shows at the Greek Theater and were invited to crash at this great rented home overlooking cliffs with a pool and over 50 naked hippies. As morning broke, after watching "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" we set out for our drive down the coast with the thought of resting soon. We bought 15¢ ice cream cones at a local liquor store and a pack of bologna, hamburger rolls and a can of Ravioli at a grocery store to get us through a day or two. We pitched tent on some beach, met a family from Eureka and settled in for the day. I made some calls home to friends and family, most notably Laura and Barbara Rossman, from a nearby pay phone to which I hitched a ride, my only hitchhiking stint ever. Wanted to hear some other familiar voices. Stay in touch. Still, I can't imagine why we left the house with the naked party.
My 40th was marked with a party at our home. Once again, the common thread was good friends and family. Another surprise that wasn't. Sorry Laura, your intentions never go unnoticed. I was already a doc for one year and my future was glaring at me. My kids danced to the sounds of Dan and Kieran playing guitar and bongos. July 16th is always a good day to me. Even if I was never in school for it as a kid and didn't get to bring in donuts or cupcakes or whatever to share with my class, but obviously that has crossed my mind.
Today, I get to be with my dog, my three sons and Laura. Nothing major planned, just a quiet day like most days but without work. Nothing I would rather do and no place I'd rather be, physically and mentally. I am at the appropriate place at the appropriate time in my life. I am fortunate.
Certain things that birthdays accomplish. Besides the innate fight to achieve another year above ground, a birthday is a refueling and recharging of sorts. A day to reaffirm our friendships and close ties. A day to hear from friends whose shipping lanes no longer traverse ours. A day to remember birthdays past and reminisce of all that is good in our world. A day to make plans, revisit expectations and reaffirm our beliefs. Also a day to reassess our goals.
Lastly, a day to take it all in and be glad for what you have. Life is good.
July 16, 2011
