It was my birthday this week.

(Pause to let people sing)

Thank you. On my PVR I had recorded the film Sixteen Candles and had been putting off watching it for lack of interest. But on my birthday I decided I’d go ahead and watch it. It seemed fitting…in a denial sort of way.

Actually, I didn’t feel bad this year. Most of us reach a stage in life where we don’t really feel like celebrating the fact that we’re a year older. I had been like that each year since I turned twenty-one – with one exception.

The year I turned twenty-four I decided I wanted a 24-themed birthday. My mother wrote twenty-four letters, each one titled “the following takes place between (an hour) and (an hour later)”. Most of them involved me sleeping. Then at dinner my mum and sister made me a cake that looked like a bomb. That was a great day. And for the sake of that I didn’t mind being a bit older.

I couldn’t think of any theme to go along with 27, so my birthday this year was relatively quiet. Relaxing. But getting older didn’t upset me this year either. I suspect it has a lot to do with finding a place for my writing.
Writing is the road I was called down nine years ago. But until this year I hadn’t seen much fruit from it. But now more than ever I’m seeing examples of my writing being a blessing to others. So I wanna thank you guys again for encouraging me on this path. It’s been tough, and some years uneventful, but I’m seeing the fruit of my work now. Thank you guys.

And in case I forget – Merry Christmas!