March 20, 2012

The Big Hawaii

Today is my Birthday. The big Hawaii, as in 5-0.

I was born via caesarian birth on the first day of spring. I have a tiny scar on my left shoulder blade to prove it. Today, such a scalpel slip would pay for my kid's college funds.  In 1962, my parents were glad I was alive. Stuff happened.

 I was born a poor white boy. My parents were LMC, but  I grew up rich in other ways.  In fact, I never felt deprived as a child. The house overflowed with love and if Mom gave me the stern "No" at the cereal or toy aisle, then that was just how it was. I ate peanut butter or bologna an drank Kool Aid with lots of sugar and turned out fine.

I did the normal stuff a kid did in the 1960's and 1970's.  Many of those tales I have related here. I was no wilder than most of my friends. In those days we weren't so concerned with self-esteem and nobody blamed the world if life treated you like a turd sandwich.  You got in fistfights in the morning and went bike riding with the other guy in the afternoon. Mom wasn't worried if you were gone all day because if you misbehaved the neighbor's Mom would beat your ass in her stead.

I coasted through Little League, through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and school. I went to college, married a fine women and raised three great kids. Life is good.


I have made fifty trips around the sun.  In my mind, I am at life's half way mark, Reality math says otherwise. I don't ponder the situation much.  Every day is a new day.


Since the weather is so fine, I think I am going to pull out my very best cigar from my humidor, the Ashton Cabinet that has aged the better part of a decade, and burn it in good spirits for lunch. Later, I might have some cake, and I suspect the family will gift me some stuff and some cards.  If not, I can live with that too.

I am mellow. I have fifty good reasons to be so.

"But Joe", you ask "What can we do for you?"  Comments, bunches and bunches of comments would be nice.

See how easy I am to get along with these days?

21 comments:

Rita said...

Welcome to the club. Don't worry, everything only hurts when you laugh.

I "celebrated" my 50th with a trip to Italy. Hubby wouldn't go, so I went without him.

It was wonderful, he would have hated it, so that was okay.

Hope you day is great. Chuck Lofton planned a great record-breaking day for you to enjoy.

You can't get better weather than this.

If only there was an ocean nearby.

Happy Birthday Joe.

Enjoy!

Otter said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BRO....!
Love Otter

Yabu said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I'll be hoisting one for you.

B said...

And Happy Birthday to you.

Fred said...

Happy . . .

Fred said...

... birthday . . .

Fred said...

...Joe !

Erin O'Brien said...

The Nitchy Gritchy Bitchies: all those little aches and pains associated with advanced age.

I like the ones that make noise. My ankle, for instance, clicks.

Good christ.

Happy Birthday, Hoose.

Joe said...

You got the clickin' ankle too? How about the poppin' knee and the aching shoulder?

Old age ain't for pussies.

You guys are all wonderful. Thanks a heap. It is going to be a great day.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, glad you made it this far in such good shape.
The best is yet to come!

- Galt-in-Da-Box

Fuzzy Curmudgeon said...

Happy birthday. Smoke one for me.

Mockingbird said...

Happy Birthday, Joe!

Scott said...

Happy Birthday, Hoosierboy. Welcome to the over the hill gang. Time to join up with that fine organization, the AARP. Sorry, that one hurt.

Joe said...

hah, my AARP card "accidentally" fell into the trash can.

Jean said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,JOE!

You really are such a youngun, I turned 61 (ouch) last Tuesday.
Maybe today I'll go to the beach just for you. ♥

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Joe, got ya by a few years.

JOG

Cappy said...

Did that 10 years ago. We're the guys that left disco, leisure suits and big Afros for your teenage years.

You are welcome.

Happy B'day!

Ed Bonderenka said...

Sorry I'm late to the party, been busy.
Happy day after your birthday Joe!
May God continue to bless you!

CnC said...

happy Birthday Joe. forget about AARP I joined Amac
http://amac.us/

welcome to the ol geezer club.

Dave said...

Hope you had a happy birthday!

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday Joe. I lurk here a lot and most always enjoy your posts. This one was a classic--reminds me of...me. And better times. Hope the next fifty are good to you

Consider everything here that is of original content copyrighted as of March 2005
Powered By Blogger