Another Anniversary of becoming a Human Being on this planet Earth

 

One of our annual celebrations has come around again. Flip a page on the calendar to acknowledge the body has another day.

Wake to a cold sunshine, but the replacement of AAA batteries in the thermostat warmed up the old bones. A couple cups of java and some pecan coffee cake, the day turns to catch up the news of the world. Instead of inspiring wisdom of the day, I’m presented with videos of people doing foolishness, uniformed authorities spraying crowds of screamers, fires, destruction and administrative pardons of everyone under the sun. The good news is after 40+ days; the government might be making up with each other and playing nice to do what they were elected for.

Being the day of the 250^th anniversary of the Marine Corp, the remembrance of the 1898 Wilmington coup, the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the debut of Sesame Street I’ll ponder every breath and wonder why I’ve survived so long when so many others I’ve known haven’t? According to those who study the numbers of cultural timelines for mortality, I’ve got another decade before the grime reaper comes to visit.

Being chilly out, I’ll stay in (except for a brief feeding chore for the yard critters) and wait for the snow. I’ll appreciate the names that wished me an electronic ‘Happy Birthday’ but there are no cards or presents. I’ll call the last laptop I purchased my gift to myself. There will be no balloons or raised glasses or singing or candles. There will be no wrapping paper to tear into or silly gifts that will be long forgotten or broken. There will be no gathering of friends or selfies to refer to later.

For today, there is no pain or suffering or anxiety or stress. These are gifts enough.

Now is the time to cut the cake.