33 (My Annual Birthday Rant)

NOTE: For full effect of this post please play the tune below before reading....


 

For the past eight years everyone has heard me rant about how much I think it sucks to get older. Well, here's my ANNUAL rant (but you'll be surprised)

This morning, I went to a cheesy old diner called "Colonial Kitchen". By myself....

I've passed this diner hundreds of times and all I see are old people go into it. I figured, hey, why don't I take a look at my future and mingle with the elders. Maybe it'll make me feel young?

I sat down with a good book ("GOOD ENOUGH"  by my friend PAULA YOO)...

 and ordered what was called the "Pancake Sandwich"...

Not too "sandwichy" if you ask me.

It became immediately apparent that I was surrounded by many retired older folks when I heard the sound of pill bottles being opened up all around me before the sipping of orange juice...

While I was eating I took in the sounds of the restaurant.

    1. The elevator music version of "The Girl from Ipanema" was playing followed by "Lujon" by Henry Mancini..
    2. The elderly mother/daughter couple behind me talking about the upcoming VP debate.
    3. The elderly quartet of women sitting at the table to my left planning to go see "Eagle Eye"

These are my kind of people!

But I couldn't help but listen intensely to the elderly couple in front of me. They were talking about their youth.

They LOVED being old and talked about the rough life of the 70's economy and the stock market crash of '87 and comparing it to today's economical crisis. They weren't worried because they were smart with their savings. Makes sense!

All my life I complain about getting old and rushing through life just trying to get a piece of the American pie. A home, a job, a happy family...

Now, I have that and I realize that I've been so busy trying to keep my share of the pie in a rapidly growing economy that I have never really sat back to enjoy it. Well, here I am. In a diner surrounded by people who have finished the race of life and they're settling down to slowly enjoy their breakfast. No one seems to be worried about the current state of affairs.

I couldn't have done this last year. I was too busy with too many things, but this year it's different.

This is what I WANT to be!

I make it a point to try and make my life a little bit better than it was the year before.

    I don't have that shitty video game job any more.
    I have a second child coming next month.
    I work on children's books full time which doesn't even feel like work

I am much more relaxed than last year. Heck, I don't even wear shoes anymore when I go out...

Sure our economy is a disaster, but I've saved up for it. I'm ready! I'm surprised that I'm actually doing just FINE! I'm just like that old couple in front of me!

Strangely enough, hearing that conversation was the best gift I could have possibly received from anyone.

I was going to be fine.

I bought my breakfast and tipped the waitress well. (That's always my rule on my birthday)

Then I bought the couple's breakfast in front of me too.

It was the least I could do for a solid piece of mind.

Comments

[Do']

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANTAT!!!! When are you coming down to SD to visit?

[Christian Sinclair]

Great story Dan. I too see this revelation a lot in my work with dying patients. Those who went through life and got it right teach me as many lessons as those who are at the end and express many regrets. A common feeling is trying to focus more on the basics of relationships and experiences. Sounds like you had a good morning.

[Lisa Yee]

I love it that you bought breakfast for that couple.

Happy Birthday!!!

Lisa

P.S. I went to Colonial Kitchen once. But it was during a walk-a-thon and I just used their bathroom.

[Blake Himsl Hunter]

Happy birthday! Great story and I am glad to hear you are doing well!

-Blake

[Paula Yoo]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAN!!!!!!!! I loved reading this blog (thanks for the shout out!). This blog made me smile and I can't stop smiling for the rest of the day. Thanks for making my day a happy one. You are right, we should embrace our future old age with open arms! :) xoxoxoxo Paula

[Kim Baker]

I passed that restaurant a lot when I lived in L.A., and I always wondered what it was like inside. Thanks for the vicarious breakfast.

You are living the dream, dude! Happy Birthday!

[Erik Brooks]

Happy Birthday Dan! Such a young'un :)

[Janie Bynum]

Dan, Happy Birthday! And, thanks so much for passing along your gift. Paula Yoo sent me to your blog today, which I thought highly serendipitous (I've been dying to use that word in a sentence lately; thanks for that, too) since you and I just became friends on Facebook this week. I've always admired your immense talent. (I remember meeting you at your first SCBWI conference; and no, I don't even want to figure out how long ago that was.) So, happy, happy birthday!

[shaunna]

Happy Birthday Dan! This was an awesome post. I think that's super cool that you footed the bill for the elderly couple as well. Now I'm going to start talking loudly of good tidings in restaurants in hopes someone overhears me and buys my lunch ;)

And hooray for more art babies! The Soto's are expecting their second baby as well. Many congratulations! Here's to Life and all of it's beauty....

[Elizabeth O. Dulemba]

What a cool way to celebrate your birthday!
Sounds like it turned out alright after all.
:)
e

[Dee]

Feliz Cumpleanos, Dan! What a wonderful way to spend your birthday: getting peace of mind and making someone else's day. Karmic Bonus!

Thanks for sharing the feel-good buzz. :)

[Eric Merrell]

Happy Birthday Dan - sounds like you had a rad breakfast. Sorry to be hanging out at an S.F. hospital instead of down here, but maybe we'll catch up soon at the rhino pen or the miniature golf course.

Say, how come you don't have a link to my blog when I have a link to yours? Eric

[Hope Evarts]

Very Cool! ... a great perspective on life and the world around us. thanks!