one more year

So yesterday was my birthday. It’s the first year I’ve actually realised I’m getting older, in spite of that process starting on the original birthday a number of years back. I’ve been feeling my age the last little bit, and I think a lot of it has to do with the amount of time I’ve spent injured over the past year, and how it really knocked me off my running goals and hockey and ultimate leagues.

The past year started off as a tremendous challenge, where I was pretty miserable and made everyone else around me miserable (sorry Kris, let us never speak of that telephone company I worked for, again). It finished off as one of the best of my life. I had an amazing Christmas, which led into a new job that I really like, a vacation with an incredible person, and a kick-ass new place to live. Talk about finishing the year on a high!

In spite of all this I have, as mentioned, felt a little creaky lately, had not been looking forward to the day, and was a little down Sunday eve following a difficult weekend with my dad. He has retinitis pigmentosa, and his eyesight has deteriorated to the point where formerly simple tasks (like seeing the mate point of a joint) are very difficult. As a result he gets frustrated, and takes out the frustration on the folks he loves. It can be very draining, but what’s even worse was realizing that there’s nothing I can do to fix it. That’s life, and sometimes it’s very hard to accept that you can’t control everything, which in turn makes you (well me, anyways) sad.

Ok, I’m babbling. The point is, in spite of all the good, I was feeling a little down on the eve of the anniversary of the day some mailman’s (my dad blames him, anyways 😉 ) kid popped out, because of a few things beyond my control. At the end of the day yesterday, that had all changed.

Thanks to everyone who sent gifts, cards, e-cards, e-mail, and phoned wishing me a happy day. I was floored; it made me feel pretty damned good, and chased away a lot of the creakiness and sadness. You all reminded me life is good, and that I’m incredibly lucky. You’re all an amazing group of people, and I’m not sure what I’d do without you all.

I owe you all big, thanks for a Happy Birthday. I’m not feeling old, either.

Here’s to continuing the streak from last year, and keeping the little black cloud firmly in place over 483 Bay Street (sorry, Sam… well, not really… just pass it on to someone else as soon as you can).