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Friday, March 07, 2008

Double nickel



G-55. That's G, as in Green, 55. I get to be a Bingo card call for five more years!

Every year, I take off my birthday from work. So as I wake from my Nyquil-induced fog, planning to start the day attending a daddy or grandfather/child breakfast at my daughter's day care, I'm taking off my birthday from the blog, and will leave you with the usual thing:

In our local Hearst paper, they always run this poem in August on the anniversary of the death of some founder. I think my tradition will be that I will quote a section from one of my favorite books, Here and Now: Living in the Spirit by Henri J.M. Nouwen, a Canadian theologian who died in 1996. (Copyright 1994, published by The Crossroad Publishing Company.)

I share this passage about birthdays, not only for my sake, but, I hope, for yours as well:

Birthdays need to be celebrated. I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion, or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone: "Thank you for being you." Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. On a birthday we do not say: "Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished." No, we say: "Thank you for being born and being among us."
...
Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the goodness of life, and in this spirit we really need to celebrate people's birthdays every day, by showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness, and affection. These are ways of saying: "It's good that you are alive; it's good that you are walking with me on this earth. Let's be glad and rejoice. This is the day that God has made for us to be and to be together."


ROG

16 comments:

Uthaclena said...

Unfortunate cocktail, that Nyquil; but lauditory greetings nonetheless on another trip around the Sun! Yer a hekkuva guy, Mr. Green, and we're all better for having ya walk among us! Happy Birthday!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Roger!

Johnny Bacardi said...

Happy birthday!

Gordon D said...

Happy birthday, near twin!

Maybe we should get together for dinner with near-triplet Jenna Fischer. There's a place near me that serves huge portions of food...and that we'll be digesting for a few months.

(I swear to God - you could feed a family of four on their appetizers alone)

Anonymous said...

Hey Roger,
Happy Birthday -- enjoy!

Lefty said...

You say it's your birthday!

It's Gordon birthday too, yeah!

You say it's your birthday.

Gonna have a good time.

Happy Birthday Roger!

Thanks for your wit, wisdom, mirth, and good musical tastes.

GayProf said...

Happy Birthday!

Rocco Nigro said...

roger
happy birthday to you!!!
rocco

Anonymous said...

Roger,

Happy birthday!

Judy

Anonymous said...

Hi Roger -
What a great day - your birthday and it's Friday! Have a happy
birthday and enjoy the festivities. Celebration time!

Bonnie

Anonymous said...

Hope you're having a good one,

S.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Roger. :)

Mikester said...

Happy birthday!

Greg said...

Season's Greetings! Oh, no, wait - Happy Birthday, sir!

Anonymous said...

Hi Roger--

I hope you had a glorious day.
Cheers

Anne

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! I still remember yours, too...