Today was my 49th birthday. Hard to believe that I am that old. Time flies when you are either having fun or going through hell. Today I must say was rather cool. Judy planned a party, a “low holy day” celebration for this most auspicious of days. We figure that you can’t get much lower than my birthday so what better way to mark the day. The days is also the feast day of Saint Rupert of Salzburg, lousy name great city…the hills really are alive there. It is also the feast of even lesser known saints, and one theologian who was condemned at one ecumenical council and restored at the next, Saint John Damascene. He was condemned for his defense of Icons, sometimes known as the Iconoclast controversy. Obviously this was done by folks who were not cool with art. However, he was restored by those with more artistic sensitivity at the next council, but I digress, but without me how many of you would have linked my birthday with the Iconoclast controversy?
I have now had a good number of birthdays. A decent number I have spent away from home, often overseas. Places like Jordan, Germany, Korea and at sea in the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Aden. I’ve had some birthdays where we barely had anything and others where Judy and I just did something together or with another couple. This I think was the first that was an actual party.
Anyway….tonight was a good night. My ever gracious department head let me out a bit early to help Judy around the house. We had friends from work and church, unfortunately the weather was lousy and the normally bad Friday evening traffic was compounded by the rain causing nasty conditions. Thus some others were unable to attend. Nonetheless we had about twenty friends over. It was really cool to see how lives of all the people that came intersected, hometowns, churches, work, other friends. It was a wonderful evening. I think the highly for me was being back together with my assistant and body guard in Iraq, Nelson Lebron. Nelson is great, he took care of me, we went through a lot together and it is my opinion that he is the finest at what he does in the Navy. In addition to this he is a Golden Gloves boxer, kick boxer and MMA fighter. He does more martial arts than I can count. He has fought with Team USA and has a humongous number of title belts. He has more personality in his little finger than most anyone that I have ever met. It is so good to see him again after his second trip to Iraq in under a year.
Me with my Friend and Body Guard RP2 Nelson Lebron on our way out of Iraq, February 2008
In addition to Nelson we had a variety of other friends and colleagues over. What I thought was cool was the way that this diverse group of folks had a great time together, for me it was kind of cool. It’s the way that I think things ought to be. The food and beer were great, it was cool to see the reaction of people to the half gallon of Gordon Biersch Marzen Beer, which is my favorite beer. Our little dog Molly was enjoying all the attention ebing a complete suck up.
So this is what it is like to be 49. With friends like these I think that I can handle it. Peace, Steve+
The Inglorius Padre Steve's World 