Yesterday was my birthday. But it was not just any birthday, it was my Golden Birthday. I turned 59 years old and I was born in ’59.
I know, I know. Golden Birthdays are supposed to be when your age is the same as the day of the month of your birthday.
Those are wasted if you’re born in the first few days of the month, such as I was, on a day you do not enjoy and cannot remember.
For me, though, my Golden 59th Birthday was one I enjoyed and one I will remember. It started with a dream I had in which I was taking a nap and in my dream I awoke to find my family there and I enjoyed it so much and it felt so good just to have them around. And then, later in the day we all got together to celebrate MY birthday at dinner.
It was, literally, a dream come true.
Another good thing about my 59th birthday was that I realized so much more now than when I was three how much I have to be thankful for. My wife, my kids, my mom and dad and brother and sisters, all the people around me through the years, all the blessings and all the good fortune, most of it unearned by anything I did.
So, for this, my real Golden Birthday, I am thankful. And I’m glad it didn’t show up until I was old enough to appreciate it.
My kids, born in ’94 and ’98, have something to look forward to.
For a long time.