Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to Me!

RetroLounge

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Sun Feb-13-05 10:00 AM
Original message

Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, it is my birthday today, and I was thinking...

Age 11: Well, I remember nothing about it. Just another skinny kid in the suburbs of Chicago hanging out and being a kid.

Age 22: Just begining a long nasty decline. It was going to get bad and stay that way for a long time. But I didn't know it then, and was having a hell of a lot of "fun" on the way to homelessness, addiction, self-abuse, suicide attempts and the gut-wrenching terror of being one of the lost.

Age 33: Yikes. What happenned? In Milwaukee, 4 yrs Sober, Divorced, In grad school, living in a studio, no car, no real job, starting over, feeling not old, but just like I was late for the party.

and today.

Age 44: Whoo Hoo! Damn, life is good. Woke up early and climbed on the treadmill while watching music videos. My wife and two kids had presents wrapped and ready for me, and nice cards two. They woke up and I got big birthday hugs from the kids while they helped unwrap the presents. My wife made a big breakfast for us. Parents called to say happy birthday and that they love me. and I get to lounge around all day in my very own house and do nothing but exist, happy, joyous and free.

RL

- Happy Birthday!	Bronco69	Feb-13-05 10:02 AM	#1
- Thanks! It's been a heck of a journey so far...	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:18 PM	#15
- Wow, that's some rebound!	GOPFighter	Feb-13-05 10:08 AM	#2
- Thanks!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:19 PM	#16
- I love happy posts!	babylonsister	Feb-13-05 10:08 AM	#3
- "Today is our 23rd anniversary"	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:20 PM	#17
- Happy Birthday, RetroLounge!	Lady Effingbroke	Feb-13-05 10:10 AM	#4
- Thanks!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:20 PM	#18
- Happy birthday!	SarahBelle	Feb-13-05 10:10 AM	#5
- Thank you most kindly!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:20 PM	#19
- Happy b-day, RL!	eyesroll	Feb-13-05 10:17 AM	#6
- Thanks. Yes, so far a great do-nothing relaxing day.	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:21 PM	#20
- happy birfday!	sundog	Feb-13-05 10:18 AM	#7
- Dude!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:21 PM	#21
- Good on ya'!!	fishnfla	Feb-13-05 10:50 AM	#8
- It's nice to be found...	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:22 PM	#22
- Hey B'day RetroLounge	Longgrain	Feb-13-05 10:55 AM	#9
- Hopefully many more...	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:22 PM	#23
- Happy, Happy Birthday!	joeybee12	Feb-13-05 11:55 AM	#10
- Thanks joeybee12!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:23 PM	#24
- Happy Birthday, RL.	bobthedrummer	Feb-13-05 11:58 AM	#11
- Thank Bob!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:24 PM	#25
- Ya! That's what I'm talkin about! Slippers and a bathrobe	Cadence	Feb-13-05 12:00 PM	#12
- "Slippers and a bathrobe"	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:25 PM	#27
- Happy Birthday .....	auntAgonist	Feb-13-05 12:01 PM	#13
- Cake? Well, of course!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:26 PM	#28
- Happy Birthday !	bushwentawol	Feb-13-05 12:14 PM	#14
- Thanks bushwentawol!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:27 PM	#29
- Happy Happy Birthday!!!	koneko	Feb-13-05 12:25 PM	#26
- Thanks!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 12:27 PM	#30
- Happy Birthday Dear Retroooooooooooo,	mzmolly	Feb-13-05 01:23 PM	#31
- Hey mzmolly! Thanks!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 03:26 PM	#36
- Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,	ralps	Feb-13-05 01:39 PM	#32
- Hey Ralps!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 03:27 PM	#37
- Happy Birthday!	Amaya	Feb-13-05 01:44 PM	#33
- Thanks!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 03:28 PM	#38
- You say it's your birthday	Floogeldy	Feb-13-05 01:44 PM	#34
- na na na na na na - na na	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 03:29 PM	#39
- Happy Birthday!	bigwillq	Feb-13-05 02:03 PM	#35
- I had lots of help in that regard.	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 03:29 PM	#40
- Wow. What a tale, RL.	Bertha Venation	Feb-13-05 03:29 PM	#41
- Thanks Bertha Venation!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 03:31 PM	#43
- Happy Birthday!	Revolutionary_Acts04	Feb-13-05 03:30 PM	#42
- Thanks Rev!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 03:32 PM	#44
- Happy Birthday	WakeMeUp	Feb-13-05 04:09 PM	#45
- Hello WakeMeUp and thanks!	RetroLounge	Feb-13-05 04:24 PM	#46