You say it’s your birthday? YES I DO!

Dec. 30, 1965 dawned like any morning for Louise and Bill Smith. The sunset on the day would be quite another story, however.

Much like Mary and Joseph, the pair were traveling so they could have their baby (ME). I wasn’t due until Jan. 20. My parents were coming home through Canada as they had the time and had never been.

Mom woke up at 6 and admitted to Dad she wasn’t feeling top notch but went on with getting ready for the day. Her water broke a few minutes later.

They called down to the front desk and explained the situation. The desk staff had a wheelchair outside their door within moments. Dad said he was the one freaking out about everything while Mom needed a smoke (this was back in the 1960s when this stuff was considered cool.)

Somehow, my mom had booked a room at the Sheraton Downtown Toronto, not knowing it was across the street from a hospital ER. My dad wheeled her across in rush hour traffic to cheers and wishes of good fortune.

Hospital folks got her inside on the frigid Canadian morning (my mom swore she’d never been so cold in her life and was everything she could just to keep me warm.) They found a baby doctor because mine was four hours away in Detroit but on his way.

Like everything else that day, things went well as at 11:04 a.m. Eastern time, yours truly came happily bouncing into the world, my mom swears I came out of the womb rocking and raring to go.

For 55 years, nothing has changed. I start most days kicking and screaming to get going, although now it’s a little easier with a cup or two of coffee. I still am grateful for family, friends, my two new pets (Jeffrey and Jordy, replacing Rocky, who passed away earlier this year.)

Was it a good year? Any year you wake up and can celebrate having another one is good. Could it have been better? Of course (and we ain’t bringing in covid here.)

Spending some time with the bride today, but hope to see y’all in Jacksboro Saturday vs. Holliday.

That’s about it for this week. As always, thanks for listening.

See y’all down the road.