It's Kings Day and I'm 35

Once a year we celebrate with stupid hats and plastic plates, the fact that you were able to make another trip around the sun, and the whole clan gathers round, and gifts and laughter do abound, and we let out a joyful sound and sing that stupid song. Happy birthday now you're one year older. Happy birthday your life still isn't over. Happy birthday you did not accomplish much but you didn't die this year I guess that's good enough. So let's drink to your fading health and hope you don't remind yourself the chance of finding fame and wealth decrease with every year.

The Arrogant Worms

Used to get blah as my birthday approached. I thought of what I hadn't contributed or the number of people who weren't affected by me. Once I had amazing kids I knew I'd given something back and getting old wasn't anything, This year, though, I keep seeing my Grandma's hands and lines around my mouth, my Mom's double chin, I can't lose weight by kicking the beer for a month and the arthritis feels like bruising in my joints because I live in the cold uptight beltway badlands. The day has come and gone and with the clarity it brought I see that I finally have my Grandma's weathered hands!  The cotton picking, telephone switching, pea shelling, corn shucking, sock darning, shirt starching, shrimp deveining, back rubbing, knee patting hands that knew so much. I can't wait to see what I get next year. Happy birthday to me.