Everybody had a good time; everybody let their hair down

Tomorrow (or today if you’re not reading this until tomorrow) is my birthday. So, in keeping with the spirit of the occasion, I am anticipating lots of firm hugs and wet kisses (from females who might drop by; from males, a firm and gentlemanly handshake will do) to mark the occasion.

I’ve never really liked birthdays. I didn’t even like them much when I was a kid. Oh, I liked being a year older because that put me a year closer to ‘freedom’. But, as old Kris once opined in song: “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose,” I came to realize that freedom was nothing to do with being unfettered from a less-than-savory parental household. Freedom can only be found in the heart and soul. I’m not quite there yet, but I continue to work on the concept.

As I’ve grown older I can only marvel at how rapidly the years have accelerated, with each decade after 20 passing twice as quickly as the one preceding it – in my mind, at least. I have to now accept, unless I am some sort of genetic marvel, that I have considerably less time left than what has gone before. Yet, so much of before seems like only yesterday. I think I’m OK with all of that. I’d better be, since there is no alternative. But, as a friend recently said: “As long as your line of vision has you looking at the flowers rather than the bulbs, you must be doing OK.”

I ran into a female friend yesterday who told me that she is having a ‘part-ay’ – a par-tay to mark her 60th birthday. She’s even rented a hall and a karaoke machine. My blood ran cold at the karaoke reference. My mind went to a rather debauched evening in a Honolulu bar, and I have no desire to go back to that interlude in time. Anyway, she wants Wendy and I to come to her party. We’ll go because the birthday girl is a dear and wonderful soul whom we both love.

But, I don’t want to do that sort of thing for my birthday. I want it to pass unobtrusively – I think. It likely will.

And I console myself in the knowledge that I am only a day older than I was yesterday, and carry on from there.

But, in terms of getting a lovely acknowledgment, or two. Two of my most cherished blogger pals have given me awards. First, the beautiful and brave casdok of the Mother of Shrek blog, accorded me a Blogger of the World acknowledgment and that made me feel very proud. I love casdok, and I admire her and I wish I had half her courage to be able to maintain her wonderful grace and humor despite adversity. Visit her. You won’t be disappointed for a second. You’ll be as enchanted as I was when I first came to call.

And Heart in San Francisco, of Guilty with an Explanation equally beautiful and brave. I’ve never seen a photo of this cherished person, but I know she’s beautiful at all the levels a person should be. She’s also tough, and brave and sometimes thinks uncannily like I do. Her bonus is she gets to live in San Francisco, one of my favorite cities. She is also one of my longest duration blogger buddies, so it’s appropriate that I got this award.

I know I should be very ambitious and pass both of these on. I’m not being lazy, but a huge deadline is looming, so I’ll have to catch up with you later. I already know who I deem to be ‘bloggers of the world’ and ‘Best Buddies.’ Bet you do, too. Feel free to help yourselves to the awards.