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!