My mom told me I was born around 7 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 1953, and she ought to know, she was there. I remember a story about having to stop at a train crossing on the way to the hospital. That might suggest why the whistle of an old steam train strikes me in the heart, although by ’53 it could have been a diesel, too.
In any case, here I am, 71 years old today. How the bejeebers did this happen? I know, I know: It happened one day at a time.
I joked to a friend that my 71st year on this planet will not be on my list of my top 70 favorite years. A part of me is still reeling and still trying to adjust to the loss, and a part of me is thinking, “Oh, no worries, that’s just normal, some things you just never adjust to, deal with it.”
I did get a Christmas book out just in time for Christmas, and people said nice things about it. And I did pick up my guitar and start playing again after 15 years, and you know me, I have to start putting words and music together and I’m writing some songs again.
Oh, and then there was that Godzilla movie. The first Godzilla movie came out in November 1954, and I finally realized this year that I’m older than Godzilla. There have been 38 Godzilla movies in my lifetime, but only two absolutely brilliant films with Godzilla in them — the first one and Godzilla Minus One.
As for my 72nd year:
I woke up New Year’s morning and considered what an evil and stupid thing war is, and I started writing about resolving our differences peacefully. And I watch the new boss and the old boss gearing up for another fight, and I get on my knees and pray we won’t get fooled again. And I have laid something down in this space for one thousand, three hundred and thirty days in a row now, and I still have things to say — I’m not done.
Some time ago I said that this fourth act of my life would be about making books, and I still see that happening. I only published one book in 2023, although it was a dandy if I say so myself. I think the second quarter of this year might bear some fruit — watch this space for announcements.
I am happy to put my 71st year to rest, and I begin my 72nd journey around the sun with a bad cold that has canceled plans to celebrate my birthday with a couple of friends, wouldn’t you know it. Still and all, I thank God to be here and reasonably healthy, reasonably happy and reasonably reasonable. As Jean-Luc Picard said at the end of his first adventure commanding the Enterprise: “Let’s see what’s out there — engage!”
