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Another year, another sticker
Friday June 13 2008 By Ted Brown, Staff Writer I had another birthday this week.
You know, I never really minded getting older- back when I was 25. But lately, I feel the bones and joints are getting older, the arthritis is flaring up more often, and I keep forgetting things.
I know that goes with the territory, and I realize that creeping up on the upper side of the fifth decade, (not too far from the sixth) is a time when one will notice the body conditioning has slipped a bit.
And so long as I don’t dwell on it, I’m fine.
But I’ve had one small problem with my birthday over the years.
It’s The Sidekick.
You see, The Sidekick is one of those people who absolutely adores and cherishes each and every birthday— even if it happens to be someone else’s, like mine.
From the first waking moment of the day, as the sun creeps over the eastern horizon, right to that moment when the same sun disappears in the west, she wishes me a Happy Birthday.
Now at 6 a.m., it’s kinda cute.
At breakfast, the same, and I usually still reply with ‘Thanks.’
By lunch time, I just smile. But by midnight, I’m so damn glad I have another 365 days to wait before I celebrate the next one.
Don’t get me wrong here, I’ve loved the attention and the fact she’s so excited about me becoming another freakin’ year older— but I’ve been just a little tired from such a long day, especially for an OLD guy, at my advanced age.
There was a time that I envied her a bit, being so excited about a birthday. On her special day, she’s in seventh heaven as the day advances, and during her day, she savours everyone’s ‘Happy Birthday,’ well into the late hours of the night.
Birthdays for me, are usually another day that I have pry open my wallet to pay for that sticker on my licence plate, as well as cough up money for a Drive Clean test every year (’cuz I have one vehicle with an odd model year, and another with an even year.)
And the worst part is that my lack of enthusiasm hasn’t so much as put a dent in The Sidekick’s enthusiasm. She’s oblivious to the fact that my birthday hasn’t been that special to me.
I always figured her enthusiasm was more than enough for both of us.
But when I think about how she feels about celebrating one’s date of birth, and the positive attitude that she exudes, I have to admit that she’s got a point there.
Face it— celebrating your birthday is much more positive than the alternative.
Like when we run out of birthdays, well, I guess we’re, how can I put it? Okay, dead.
So I’m publicly admitting she has the right idea. We should enjoy every day to the fullest, and especially enjoy the celebration of that day that we all came into this wonderful world.
I’ll tell myself that hearing ‘Happy Birthday’ from dawn to dusk isn’t all that bad. It is only once a year, so I’ll revel in it. Let’s make the most of life, embrace the day, laugh,  smile, eat, drink and make merry.
And if we all celebrate that way just once a year, then we’ll all be better people for it.
The Sidekick is right— reveling in a birthday, be it your own or another’s, is a great way to live your life. I think we could all take a page from her Book of Life.
But just don’t ask me to like paying for that damned sticker on my licence plate...
—Ted Brown can be reached at
tbrown@independentfreepress.com

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