You say it’s your birthday… , by Michael Davis – Straight No Chaser #165
April 30, 2010 Michael Davis 0 Comments
…it’s my birthday too!
When I was a kid my birthday and Christmas were a big deal, as I got older my birthday became less of a big deal and Christmas became and still is a huge deal to me. As an adult I seldom celebrated my birthday in fact every year someone else reminds me that my birthday is fast approaching.
I finally figured out why I didn’t like birthdays.
I’ve felt for the longest that I’ve been living on borrowed time. I’ve said this before but I never really thought about it in terms of why I don’t think birthdays are a big deal. I’ve spent more than a few birthdays by myself reading comics, watching movies or otherwise engaged so as not to think of another year which ultimately would bring me closer to a death I had somehow avoided.
Last night I watched my dear Jasmine perform at a club and in the middle of the show she sung her very own version of ‘Happy Birthday’ to me.
Today just about every person I care about contacted me and wished me a happy birthday.
Somehow, something happened to me. Between last night and this morning and whatever that something was for the first time in my life I no longer feel like I’m living on borrowed time.
No, it was not the tequila. Really it wasn’t.
Really!
My dear friend Ehrich Van Lowe has told me many times; “Mike, you know good people.”
Nope, I know GREAT people.
Now with my luck, I’ll probably get hit by a truck.
Martha Thomases
April 30, 2010 - 7:12 am
Happy next day after your birthday! Let’s celebrate all of them!
Mike Gold
April 30, 2010 - 7:52 am
I understand the borrowed time thing. I was born two months premature, back in 1950. It was thought I was stillborn, and they thought I had died a couple days later. Maybe that’s why I’ve lived my life tits to the wind, although, more likely, I’m just fucking stupid.
But each day does not bring us a day closer to death. Earthquakes, oil fires, car wrecks, idiots and assholes and politicians… all beyond our control. I don’t worry about it. Birthdays are celebrations of having been smart enough and lucky enough to have made it this far.
I’m glad you’ve made it this far.
McCarthy
April 30, 2010 - 8:59 am
Borrowed time . . . are you changing your call sign from MOTU to COTU? Happy Birthday again, young man.
R. Maheras
April 30, 2010 - 9:15 am
Happy birthday, MOTU!
One of the reasons I’m so openly opinionated in my old age is because in the past 5-10 years, after seeing so many of my peers — and even people younger than me — kick the bucket, I know that every day could be my last. So if I don’t express my honest opinion during the moment, I may never again get the opportunity.
Jonathan (the other one)
April 30, 2010 - 9:53 am
Try looking through the other end of the telescope. From my perspective, each birthday marks the conclusion of another year during which the Universe *didn’t* manage to kill me. And it’s made some pretty creative attempts over the years, I can tell you…
Russ Rogers
April 30, 2010 - 11:02 am
Happy Birthday, Mike! Here’s to many more. And to the joy of living without a cloud of doom hanging over your head!
Reg
April 30, 2010 - 3:18 pm
Bah! Humbug!
Reg
April 30, 2010 - 3:30 pm
🙂
HHBD mOTu!
MOTU
May 1, 2010 - 1:41 pm
Ahhhh, with friends like mine….(snif)
Whitney
May 1, 2010 - 2:46 pm
Forget tequila – It was the post-show short stack from IHOP that helped you embrace your maturity.
It was a great night to celebrate you being alive, Little Brother. Happy Birthday!
pennie
May 1, 2010 - 3:20 pm
MOTU: I missed the original artists’ collaboration but can bear witness to a singular work of human art with a huge heart. Happy late Birthday my friend.
MOTU
May 2, 2010 - 10:25 pm
Thank you Pennie, I hope that somehow you are doing a bit better these days 😉
Marc Fishman
May 2, 2010 - 10:29 pm
I know we both mentioned it on facebook, but it stands to be said here too:
Happy Birthday MOTU!
–marc and kathy