Rant #2,134: Flashback

I had a really nice birthday on Saturday, April 28.

Let's get the presents out of the way ... I received some money from my parents, a book from my daughter about the Monkees, and some clothes--some nice shirts from my wife, and socks too--and from my son I also got some nice things, including an Aaron Judge T-shirt.

That T-shirt has been a bone of contention with me for nearly a year.

Last year, I went to a Yankees game with my son (my wife was sick), and I thought I bought an Aaron Judge T-shirt, along with a T-shirt with Didi Gregorious' name on it.

I went up to pay, pretty much at the same time as another shopper, and unbeknownst to me--and to the other shopper--our purchases were mixed up. What I got were two Didi shirts, and what they got was whatever they had purchased--probably a Didi shirt, hence the confusion--and my Judge shirt,

I did not know the switch was made until I got home that evening, but it kind of worked out OK, because my wife and son are Didi fans.

My birthday celebration actually began the evening before, on Friday, April 27.

I had set up with my group of childhood friends to meet in Manhattan at an Italian restaurant, which we did, forcing me to leave work a little early, which is always a blessing.

We met, had a great time, and when it came time to take care of the bill, the others paid for myself and another one of my friends, whose birthday is actually today (happy birthday, Stew).

So that was a surprise, one that came out of left field for sure.

And the Yankees continued their winning ways that night, so it was all good.

Anyway, during my birthday, I saw my son bowl in his league, and then we came home, and I finally decided to eat at an all you can eat Chinese place we have frequented in the past.

We met my daughter there, we had a good meal, and that was pretty much that.

We came home, watched a movie that I didn't like very much, and then watched the Yankees-Angels game, where I got the ultimate present, as the Yankees scored five runs in the first inning and then, five more in the second inning, en route to a 11-1 win.

I am sure they knew it was my birthday, and went all out because they knew that all I wanted to do was to go to bed happy, which I did.

I also answered a multitude of birthday greetings on Facebook--thanks to all for remembering me!

And then a day after my birthday, the Yankees won again, for nine straight wins, so the entire birthday weekend was a good one.

I know that many people don't like to celebrate their birthday. They feel they are one year older, one year closer to the grave, and they don't like that.

Well, I can tell you that I love to celebrate my birthday.

It is the one time during the year that I don't mind that the spotlight is on me; in fact, I love it!

I am not one to seek such stuff out, so the one time of year that it happens, I kind of like it.

The next such celebration up on my agenda is my daughter's birthday on May 15.

It will be a special one for her, as she turns 30 years old.

I cannot believe that I have been a father for 30 years, but yes, it is true, so there will be sort of a double celebration that day, a day that my personal world changed forever.

Gosh, me a dad? Me being 61?

Who would have ever thunk it?

Certainly not me!