Happy birthday to me… :)

With several posts under my belt now, I feel this journal taking on a rhythm of its own. The posts apparently like being written about once a week.

With my last entry coming only three days ago, I’m a bit out of sorts here, but since today is my actual 60th birthday and I’ve made such a big deal out of the 3rd third timeline, I thought I should at least say something on this auspicious day. Without a specific topic in mind, I took to my favorite idea-generating activity: going for a walk.

While strolling through the Oakland hills on this beautiful afternoon, I found myself asking what emotions I was feeling; did anything in particular stand out? The answer came quickly: gratitude. I’m simply thankful for all of the wonderful things that life has given me to date, and I think it’s important to remind myself how lucky I am. It’s a peculiarity of human nature that we seem incapable of appreciating something until we have to do without it. All other species are wired to know a good deal when they have it; just watch a cat sometime. So let me not do that here, let me proactively, intentionally express my gratitude.

First and foremost, I’ll start with my family who offer and accept the love that makes life truly a blessing. Then, my close friends – especially my motorcycle buddies – with whom I experience boundless fun and adventure. Also my employers and co-workers who over the years have provided me the means to earn a living but also an intellectually stimulating environment where I get to think, debate, imbibe (usually responsibly) and succeed more often than not.

These are my personal relationships, but I also want to express my gratitude for this wonderful place that I live in called the USA. Uncle Sam has taken quite a beating of late, but I know from years of world travel that the United States continues to represent the best of what humans have to offer. In that vein, I thank our fighting men and women, who have provided safety and security for me and my family. And I thank our business leaders whose willingness to take risks has made us the wealthiest nation in history. I thank the countless citizens whom I’ll never meet but who all contribute to this democratic project in their own important ways. And finally, I must thank the Founding Fathers, that remarkable group of individuals who came together at a moment in time and formed the system of government that has benefitted so many, myself included.

As I state these last sentiments, I’m sadly mindful many people are suffering and that it’s nearly impossible to say anything nowadays without one’s words being impregnated with political meaning, irrespective of the speaker’s intent. Such is our state of affairs at the moment; however, I won’t mute myself for the disservice it would do to everyone to whom I am so grateful.