The Birthday
Good morning. I had good day yesterday. Over the course of the day my spirits steadily rose. Good old Facebook contributed its avalanche of birthday greetings. Text messages piled in. Phone calls came all day. I had dinner with a friend. My kids chipped in to buy me a new Apple Watch. And while I was at the mall picking it up, a thunderstorm rolled through and dropped the temperatures. Alleluia.
Today I’m going to buy a book I was planning on buying yesterday and I’m going to see about getting a proper pair of sunglasses befitting a man with new eyes, or should I say lenses. I’m still stunned at the beauty of the world when I go out now. Everything is so clear and colorful. If you’ve been contemplating cataract surgery, be not afraid. It is the miracle of modern medicine. My eyes feel young again and that is a tasty treat.
All things considered, for a man who has lived three-quarters of a century, I feel good. In fact, I’m going to go for a walk this morning because I need to get back into that habit. Don’t worry. I’ll drink plenty of water before I go, and it will be quick walk anyhow. While I walk, I will think about how lucky I am to have arrived at this point in my life with so many good friends and wonderful children and grandchildren. The blessings have certainly flowed. With any luck more may come. I just have to keep my eyes open and maintain a flexible definition of blessing.
John W. Wilson is the author of The Long Goodbye: A Caregiver's Tale