I’ve always liked birthdays, just not my own as much as others. If I’ve had any contact with you since your last birthday, I try to at least shoot you a text wishing you a happy birthday. I’m sure I’ve missed some, and if yours is one of the ones I’ve missed, I do sincerely apologize. Everyone deserves that one special day where it’s about them for 24 hours (some people decide to dedicate an entire month to their birthday… you know exactly who I’m talking about), so I try to do my best to at least contribute to that through a simple text message. According to the calendar, it looks like today is that day for me. So I want to thank each and every one of you. Thank you for the text messages. It’s nice to know that people care enough to take a second and wish me a nice day. Thank you for the facebook posts and the tweets. I try my best every year to go back and like them and leave a comment saying thanks. Thank you for helping to shape me into the person I am today, because every single person I’ve ever met has had an impact on the person I am today (whether positive or negative, I guess only time will tell), no matter how small or large that impact may be.
Birthdays tend to be another one of those points in life where you sit back and re-evaluate everything. One of those reality checks. Just in case you haven’t had a reality check recently, you have an annual one built in. For instance, I had arguably the biggest “wow” moment of my entire life on Sunday. My mother was driving me to the airport to fly back out to the client site when she turned to me and asked if I wanted to hear something crazy. She then proceeded to tell me that I was turning the age she was when she had me. I’m pretty good at math, so it’s not like this was difficult information to ascertain, but still. Actually hearing that? I think the only word I said for the next five minutes was “wow.” It is weird that I’m at the age now where people I know are getting married and starting families and being “adults,” but to be honest, I don’t think that’ll ever not be weird. So I smile and shake my head, amazed at something so simple, yet so complex, as life truly is. Another year closer to adulthood. I’ll let you know when I feel like I actually get there.
Oh, and P.S., Stephen H. turns 23 tomorrow. Maybe you remember him. It’s been a while. But wish him a happy birthday tomorrow. These two days are Stephenpalooza (we love paloozas here at With a PH), so celebrate accordingly.