Rant #1,661: The Big 5-9

Yes, today is my birthday.

I have officially been on this planet for 21,535 days, plus a couple of Leap Year days thrown in for good measure.

Honestly, I cannot believe that I am this age. It seems like just yesterday, I was digging in the dirt, running around, playing stickball, and generally, being a kid.

I feel that I am still a kid, but I am a 59-year-old kid.

It is really startling, or at least to me it is.

I always look forward to my birthdays. Sure, I am getting older, but I do feel that I am getting wiser too.

Another year is simply another notch on my belt of life. And the good thing is that I do believe that I have plenty of room for a lot more notches.

I feel pretty good. Sure, I have the aches and pains that go along with aging, but nothing major that I cannot handle.

Heck, my biggest pain might just be work, and I will be spending my birthday at my place of work today.

I wish I could have taken off today to really do nothing, but alas, it was not meant to be, not with me taking off last Tuesday for my latest dental hijinks.

No, today I will spend the day at work, enjoying my day there.

And afterwards, I have a doctor's appointment, which I am sure will add to the pleasure of my special day.

After that, I will be with my family, we will have a short celebration, I will get some gifts, and then I will be ready for bed.

Looking back, I was born in 1957, and it has really been an interesting ride during the past 59 years.

As I said before, I really haven't changed a heck of a lot during the years, a big kid in adult's clothing.

I still basically like the same things that I did when I was a kid, and yes, I am very particular about certain things.

What has changed is that I think I have a different perspective on certain things that I could not possibly have had as a kid, because sometimes, experience is your best guide, and your experience at 10 years of age, or 20, or even 30, is different than it is now.

I am a husband, a father, an uncle, and I am still a son to my parents.

So yes, my perspective is different, but I am basically the same person that I was all those years ago, when I was digging in the dirt, running around, and playing stickball.

And yes, even on my 59th birthday, I am looking forward to next year, when I hit the big 6-0.

That should be something in and of itself, a landmark birthday for the ages.

Today's birthday at age 59 is just another one, but moving onto 60 will be something incredible indeed.

So, happy birthday to me and to all the others celebrating birthdays today, including Ann-Margret and Jay Leno.

It is really the most special day on the calendar, isn't it?