I’m having a birthday. Today, as a matter of fact. As of last week, I was looking forward to it in the sort of way one looks forward to heavy dental work, or a complete physical.
This is not to say that I’m not happy about being alive for one more year, but the past several months… heck, the past half year, has been a mixed bag, with quite a bit more on the ‘downer’ side than the ‘good’ side.
Plus, I’m 34. It’s not a remarkable year to celebrate, by any means. I’m no longer in my ‘early thirties’, but I’ve drifted into that nebulous ‘mid-thirties’ zone.
Somewhere along the way into this I left behind my youthful figure, my energy, and a hell of a lot of hair. This has put a damper on festivities. (If you find the hair, call me. I want it back.)
So, I entered this week like a sheep enters a shearing house. Pensive, with my mind full of the images of what it means to have yet another year tacked on to the stack without major significant achievements added along with them.
I didn’t get married, divorced, or even date anyone. Hell, I didn’t even get laid last year. Might have had something to do with the fact that I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but eh, I’m comfy being single, for the most part. It only really sucks when there’s a good ‘couples’ movie to go to, or when my back really itches.
Thirty-four.
Sigh.
Then, the week took an up-turn, and it’s kept on turning up, and up, and up.
On Wednesday, a friend of mine took me out to a concert here; Third Eye Blind was playing a small club (300 people or so). Plus, she managed to get VIP passes, which means we got to meet the band, talk to them for a few minutes, and get stuff signed.
The show was amazing. Incredible. Unbelievably great. One of the best concerts I’ve been to, plus it’s rare that you get to see a band that big in a club that small… it was a great, great night. They managed a full set, plus three encores with two or three songs apiece. I danced all the way home (well, as much as one can dance while steering a Honda Accord), and was still singing to myself by the time I got to work the next day.
Still flying high from that experience, I head over to see some friends last night, for our weekly ‘Survivor Night’. Now, if you haven’t ever watched survivor, there’s only one thing you need to know to appreciate why this is such a popular event: the show is insiduously inane.
The joy comes from watching amazingly arrogant individuals (amazingly, because few of them seem to deserve respect for their accomplishments) find out just how shallow they can really get, and we do our best to season and skewer them for the grill with our commentary. It’s a riot.
There I am, revelling in the mirth, when a friend comes out of the kitchen with a massive birthday cake. Huge. Enormous. Plus, he tells everyone it’s my birthday, and they serenade me with everyone’s favorite song… I was grinning like a madman. Like the cat that just ate the canary, right after indulging in a mouse appetizer.
Today, at work, was being distracted by a faked computer problem on a user’s machine, when the entire office walks in with a birthday cookie (the 16" chocolate-chip kind with frosting, you know the ones) singing that infernal song yet again. I loved it… especially since I’m the only male staff member in an office with 18 women. 
Then, I get the email… a friend of mine has surreptitiously invited all of our mutual friends, all 45 or 50, over for a quick round of drinks after work. I get the ‘please come by and say hi’, so I will, and I can guess there might be more singing involved. Fine by me! I lov e my friends…
Then, afterwards, it’s off to dinner with my folks. And tomorrow? It’s dinner with my sister in Atlanta, at a French restaurant (Freedom restaurant?) of which we know the owner and chef (he’s a master). I’m looking forward to this immensely as well. I’m just not sure I can handle it.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not antisocial, I love being around people, and I cherish my friends… it’s just that I’m not used to this much attention, in a consecutive block.
My head will swell. My ego will bloom, and there will be naught left of the planet Earth after its release, for my ego is legion and it is hungry.
So please, help me. Share in some of this massive bath of joy, and help save the Earth. If you won’t do it for me, then please, do it for the Domo-kuns.
