My friend, Dan, is celebrating his _ _th birthday on July 08. He told me he did not want
me to post how old he is, but what the heck. I mean, when you see his picture next to this blog, you’re going to start guessing
and probably will guess WRONG.
You’ll guess he is either way older than he really is or way younger than he is, and either one
of those options are not in concert with the wonder-filled age that he is. So I will "embed" his age in this blog somewhere,
and if you pay attention, you’ll see the numbers 5 and 9 and that will be your clue!
It’s a wonder-filled age actually, and it gives him an entire year to do all the things he won’t be able to do once he turns
(sh-h-h-h 60!).
Dan is the ultimate friend. He is the best friend anyone would ever want. Well, I
actually did a poll, and 95% of the people I interviewed didn’t even know who Dan is! Quite a few people remember him
as their probation officer and wanted to know if I knew where he lived! Quite a few folks remember him as the mayor
of Yucaipa and also wanted to know if I knew where he lived. A few folks remember him from being on the school board
and also wanted to know where he lived. The remainder of the folks all know where Dan lives and had nothing but wonderful
comments about him especially how handsome he looks for __ __!
One of the best Christmas Eves for me was spent at Dan and Maria’s home. Twas the night before
Christmas indeed and given that Dan looks very much like Santa himself at that time of year, it was one heck of a HO HO evening.
Dan looks so much like Santa Claus, I thought for sure that, at one point, we were going to have
to hook the reindeer up to the sleigh and wave to Dan as he negotiated his way up into the sky in the sleigh. We would
all gasp as the sparks crackled from the sleigh touching the power lines and then that deafening SWOOSH as Dan finally made
it upward to an elevation where he snapped the whip and just disappeared. We would hear him shouting, "Merry Christmas
to All...How in the hell do you control this sleigh!"
But it never happened. We all stayed down to earth and "just" enjoyed the company till the sugar
plums were drooling out of our ears and the peppermint was dripping from our hearts.
Dan is always there (where ever that might be), and never gives up on me even when I don’t return
his phone calls. He just keeps calling me back. No, it’s not annoying as hell, well, yes, it is, but, and an important
BUT. I so appreciate that about Dan.
As men, we need other men in our lives. How else will we become the best men that we can become?
And I am so THRILLED to have this man in my life. Far superior to Michael Jackson. Even has a better nose! HAPPY
BIRTHDAY OL’ MAN. Come join me in the old category!
What? Watch where I’m going? Why? Oooh! I see it now, a little late....what’s that?....I can’t get this thing
up, for crying out loud. Ladder won’t help this....I can’t see a thing. No, I’m not blind! What makes you think that? Is that
a car in front of us? I’m not deaf either! I’m in good shape–for my age. What?
Click on the link to hear the Beattles sing Happy Birthday to you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glNjsOHiBYs
