It’s my birthday today. Thanks to Facebook, many of you already know that. I expect that my 54th year on this planet will be just as adventurous as the last. Certainly, it is starting out that way as I sit here at my old computer, about to get into my pirate gear in order to celebrate the day like I usually do, exceeding my limitations on all levels.
I have two traditions on the Big-B. One is a Happy Robbie Gift. This tradition was born out of the fact that I am the black sheep of the family. As such, for many years, no one in my family recognized my birthday or bought me a gift Today, outside of my mother and children, no one still does.
But, we don’t need to go there. Been there before and this was purely about a Happy Robbie Gift. This year, I am breaking with tradition, however, largely because we need a sofa. So I will be going in halvsies on a Happy JanObb Gift, once the Janmeister’s birthday rolls around a couple weeks from now.
The other tradition is to be a pirate. I haven’t always been able to wear the costume. Corporate kind of frowns on that. If this wasn’t a state holiday, I would simply be my uncostumed piratical self in the office.
Yes, office. For the past 18 years, I would go to the office as a pirate and celebrate my birthday that way. You can do that when you work for yourself. But when you work for others, well, you know the drill.
Now that I work for the state and haven’t even passed my two month probation let alone the six month review, I probably don’t want to go there. Still, I had my moments of foreshadowing. At a management meeting last week we had to go around the room and say who we were and what we did for fun. When it came my turn, I said I was a “professional entertainer.” Immediately, six other supervisors chimed, “What kind of entertainer?” I didn’t want to give too much away, so I continued the mystery, “Suffice it to say, a costumed musician.”
I know. Pirate. I simply can’t resist stirring the pot. It is my piratical nature.
So, here’s to the start of year 54. Let me bring you all up to speed for those of you who may have fallen behind in the past year.
In September of last year, about six months into year 53, I came back to Seattle. To make a very long sequence of events as short as possible, here is the Reader’s Digest version:
I arrived in Seattle, fell in love with the city all over again, cried when I saw the Space Needle, reconnected with dear friends, went to the Puyallup Fair, decided that running my own business was no longer rewarding, started applying for jobs in Seattle and Florida, flew back in November to see my mom, who made an amazing recovery from her health issues (I thought she was a goner), the weather was freaking awesome during both visits, returned to Seattle in January in that legendary snowstorm that dropped nine inches of snow on the ground. During the flight, I got a call from the state. They wanted to interview me. So I landed in the snowstorm, tried to figure out how to buy a suit, visited my mom in rehab, made the usual rounds, readied for an interview for a Marketing Manager position in downtown Seattle. Went through six interviews in two weeks, having to extend my trip. Flew back to Florida. Flew back in March with the Janmeister so she could see Seattle, just in case this job came through. Went through another round of interviews, flew back to Florida. As I waited word, the State Legislature went through a bunch of shenanigans, my job’s funding was in doubt, I was put on contract and asked to start work. Flew back April 7, started April 9, lived on a couch for a month while trying to find a place to live, while the Janmeister packed up all our worldly possessions so she could join me here in Seattle once I found a house.”
Ah, the wonders of a birthday year. And that was just half of it. I didn’t even throw in all the other stuff that happened in the first part of the year. After all, there’s only so much bandwidth on the Internet. I have to be considerate of others.
I would so love to say that year 54 will be much calmer. But we all know me by now. If it is, I will stir the pot some more. It makes life so much more interesting. And a lot of things are still up in the air here. It always seems to be in our lives. Sometimes we just don’t notice it. Instead, we lull ourselves into believing our life is all settled and tranquil, only to find that others are stirring the pot. Me? I prefer to stir my own pot, thank you.
So, today I celebrate 54 years on this earth. I still don’t quite know what I will be doing today. After all, it’s only 6 a.m. here. I have already talked to my good friend Heidi in Floriduh, got the well wishes from those on Facebook, and put on the pirate hat. I’m wondering if 6:30 a.m. is too early for coconut rum and I know there is a world out there waiting for me, once it all opens up for business.
I knew someone once who had a birthday week. I applaud her. I guess her ego needed a whole week. Me, I don’t know if I could survive a whole week of celebration at my celebratory level. I pack an awful lot of crap into just a day, which is more than enough. And quite frankly, every day is a bloody celebration when you get to be over 50. I guess that means I get a birthday year. Take that Sally (open up your nautical dictionaries for this one)!
In the Emerald City, getting my pirate on,
– Robb