I just recently had a birthday – /groan – which is normally not a big deal for me.  The day has never been particularly important.  I think growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness had something to do with that, since we didn’t celebrate anything at all – except of course the Glory of the Lord, which decidedly does not include parties with punch and pie.  It was a little strange, though, having a birthday on the Monday after the passing of so many famous people.

Like I wrote before, the deaths of Farah and Ed, and even Michael weren’t particularly surprising, due to age, disease, and the bizarre lifestyle involved.  In fact it was Billy Mays’ death that hit me the most.  Here he was, at 50, not that much older than I, and even younger than some of my friends, then suddenly he’s dead, life over, just like that.  It made me think of how lucky I am, to still be here, to share my life with a wonderful wife that I almost lost from my own stupidity.  I am making a dedicated effort to get healthier, because I want to be alive and share our journey together as long as I can.  I love her, and I love my life, and I don’t want to miss a moment of either one.