Today is my birthday. The fiftieth of its kind so I remember a few things. Like the feel of my Grandmother's hand as she stood in the kitchen in her apron. Cause that's what grandmothers did.
And walking into Clement's corner store after my paper route and asking for some water and Mr. Clement just giving it to me, for free, because it was water. I remember riding my bike without a helmet, because there were no helmets. I remember three channels on the tv and the youngest kid was the remote control. The privacy of a phone call was determined by the length of the chord on the rotary dial phone.
I remember the beauty of the moon landing and new music and the evening news, all experienced as it happened, together because there was no internet, no youtube. It all happened to us at the same time, in good company.
Like when John Lennon was killed.
I was 16 and planned to drive myself five hours down to New York City and wait for John Lennon outside of his home, the Dakota, just to see him, maybe shake his hand. Kids and their dreams.
He died that December and the world moaned; a sorrowful sound rose from our collective heart, together, as it happened.
He was killed before I could make that dream come true. I buried that dream under a thick layer of anger and regret and let lie.
And, so, the times change, as is their course. And life happens while you're busy making other plans. I neglected the tug of of an unseen past in the hurriedness that moves us from this year to next, from one decade to another and then the world changes, again, for me.
I am pushed towards the woods from the open field and seek, in the darkness, for what I know. This I know: "Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time."
I wander through the wilderness and set upon a path, and find a true friend and rest my weary bones until the one I have been looking for, unknown, arrives.
I revel in the pure joy that true love brings and set upon a path that leads us, hither and yon and directs us, gently, here, today, with a collective of others, live, as it happens, on John Lennon's Birthday.
Your words, like the picture, embrace the moment you know as it presents...the faces, the singing, another's reflection, the genuine gifts, and one other capturing the moment from another point of view. Thank you for sharing your birthday....best gift ever!
Happy belated birthday, Kevin. This is a great tribute to your turning 50. A different kind of selfie and one I can strongly identify with. Thanks so much for sharing.
I read this immediately last night and had to return with more time to reply. What a stunning journal entry, one to which so many can relate. I find myself wishing to write a lot and unable to find worthy words. Just let it be said that I'm glad you found a like-minded circle with whom to spend that milestone birthday...
