Today is my 52nd birthday.

I was born at 8:00 a.m. in Savannah, Tennessee. In 1957 I was the first baby delivered via Caesarian section in Hardin County General Hospital.

I’m told my maternal grandfather raised hell and barged into the nursery because I was crying. In those days, dads didn’t witness their children’s birth and my dad spent the time it took to deliver me in the waiting room.

But here I am fifty-two years later, a father of four, solo-dad to one, and GrandDad to the cutest little thing ever born in Alaska…Jessica Riley Anderson.

Birthdays are a useful occasion to reflect on life, but this year with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’m going look forward and list some of the things in life that I’m grateful for instead.

I’m Grateful

• I’m grateful for each of my kids: Bethany Sara, Benjamin Barry, Jeremy Augustin, and Justin Elijah.  Each is unique and all are loved beyond measure.  They bring me joy simply by having them in my life.
• I’m grateful that my parents are still with us having just celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in August. They taught me to love unconditionally as well as how to give. Their example of unselfish love is one of the truest compasses I’ve ever encountered.
• I’m grateful for other that show me affection: friends, coworkers, people I meet from day to day that I may never see again.  They all make my life an interesting and rich space to occupy.
• I’m grateful for my dog, Buddy. Today we took him to the local dog park and he was in doggie heaven. He is keeping us on our toes and in our running shoes, too!
• I’m grateful for the many people who impact my daily life: other solo-parent bloggers like Rachel Sarah, David Mott, as well as Ian and Dr. Leah. Each of these bloggers are single parents who pace the same issue and challenges as people like me and yet they find time to blog about it each day; something I have not been able to do for longer than a few weeks at a time.  Each provide the encouragement, advice, humor, and inspiration guys like me need to keep going.
• Finally, I’m grateful for every single blunder, mistake, transgression, illegal act (yes, there are some), and dumb thing I have ever done.  These little side journeys into the Land of Oopsy have made me a stronger, more resilient person.  They have been my teachers and coaches each providing me with the motivation necessary to get back up again.

Today LE and I spent the better part of the day volunteering. Each year my employer foots the bill for a Thanksgiving dinner for approximately 200 seniors. Employees volunteer as servers, cooks, and even Santa Clause and host a dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and all the trimmings.

We had a great time serving and just chatting with various seniors. It’s sobering to think that it wasn’t too long ago that these very people were my teachers, my employers, my friends’ parents in the larger sense.

It was also nice to see LE learning how to do a (half) day’s work and not expect anything in return save the satisfaction of having given a great experience to others who deserve it.

Here’s a quick video of us ‘unwinding’ with a Klondike Bar and just watch what happens:

I’ve had a wonderful birthday and I think I’m going to close it our with either a glass of wine or a cuppa.

Can’t decide which!

W

Little Elvis and I made reservations to eat at The Crow’s Nest in Santa Cruz for my birthday (I’m 51 as of 8a Central).

Jody Greenberg, a local Santa Cruz musician, fronts for a Tom Petty cover band called The Refugees and they were slated to play The Crow’s Nest on Saturday.

LE’s been playing a lot of Tom Petty music on his guitar and getting quite good at a few.  I often hear chords from Free Fallin’, Runnin’ Down the Dream, and my favorite, Face in the Crowd coming from his room.

So LE has been counting down to days to my birthday (you know how excited kids get around birthdays) as well as for the concert. It was to be a good time for us.

OK, I keep writing as if it was canceled.  It wasn’t. But our plans to attend the show were.

Let me explain.

Yesterday, I received an email from Jody via Facebook that The Crow’s Nest wouldn’t allow underage people to attend the show because it’s in the bar area.

Talk about a huge disappointment.  LE was devastated.  And I have to admit that I’m still disappointed.  I was looking forward to some serious down-time with LE in a musical setting.

I have to say that I’m impressed with Jody’s professionalism.  We traded a few emails back and forth and in all of these he was apologetic and genuinely disappointed we wouldn’t be attending.

The cool thing is that he doesn’t know me from anyone.  Hence, my positive impression of him and my willingness to wait for The Refugees’ next show in a more kid-friendly venue. We’ll be there – no question.

So, What to Do?

Suddenly, I’m up birthday creek without a paddle. I should plan something to fill in the gap left by the The Crow’s Nest rather blind decision.

In Aptos, The Brittania Arms is an English Pub and we’ve eaten there (IN THE BAR, I MIGHT ADD) often over the past three years.  They often have live entertainment on Saturdays, but it’s not really the style of music we were up for.

I’m thinking the next best thing would be to go by Border’s in Santa Cruz today and pick up a DVD of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, juice up the home theater system and settle in for a loud, rockin’ birthday anyway.

However, I did cancel attending a housewarming for my sister-niece (a long story) and her family now that they are homeowners in the Silicon Valley. Perhaps we’ll make it after all and do the concert in the evening.

But it really doesn’t matter. I’ve got LE and that’s really what’s important on this day.