Happy Birthday EAP, JJ, MLK, EM, DP and Libby

What a day January 19th is for birthdays! For some folks, of course, the BIG birthday day is December 25th, the alleged date of the birth of Jesus Christ.  In His case it does not matter when He was born but THAT He was born. Three days later is my birthday. I share it with Woodrow Wilson and I'm in between Marlene Dietrich ( the 27th ) and Marianne Faithfull ( the 29th ) two cool blondes if there ever were any. Add me and you have three cool blondes. :-) In January, there is the celebration of the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley. And I am sure that a certain David Jones aka Bowie has always loved sharing his birthday with "the king." 

I have always loathed my birthday, which, as Holy Innocent's Day, is considered to be the unluckiest day of the year. Considering how accident prone I have been over the years there might be some validity to that. But I have two other "birthdays" I can celebrate for myself. I can celebrate my "half birthday" which is on June 14. That would make me 30 rather than 60 and that would be quite fine with me. And I would not have to hear the dreadful "I would have bought you a birthday present but I spent it all on Christmas ( and not for me ) or "This is your birthday and your Christmas present COMBINED." Asking someone born near Christmas if they have ever heard that before and they will break out into hysterical laughter. And after Christmas sales --- my parents remembered them differently --- they would take me out to get things for my birthday at all of those lovely after Christmas sales. Of course they also would drag along my younger siblings who made out like bandits l but my parents never remembered spending any money except on me. Sigh. I still haven't been able to convince others they should toss me a party ever couple of years on the 14th of June. But I am working on it. 

My dad and my aunt Juanita both had the same birthday in November. I had  near death experience, also in November, and my beautiful niece Rachel was born 3 years later on that day. So that day will always be special for me, especially as she passed away at the age of 29, in 2007. I would so have loved for her to have lived her 30th birthday and celebrated it as a full and not a half birthday.  When her mom Libby and I celebrate our birthdays and turn 29 again we know Rachel is with us as she is celebrating her 29th birthday forever.

And then there is January 19th. My friend, Eddie Madigan, was a 19th of January guy. He loved his heavy metal and was crazy about Ronnie James Dio. Eddie was in a band. He was a singer. He died at the ripe young age of 21 from a bee sting. And yes, I will always miss him and be saddened that he died so young. Did I mention he was a singer? What is it about this day that makes so many singers, so many talented people? Janis Joplin was born on January 19th. I knew the lady and respected that powerhouse white girl blues voice of hers.  Janis knew I had a younger sister who was born on the same day. Libby has a smooth silk voice is more like Karen Carpenter ( ok, granted, it would be a KC singing doowop...) than Janis Joplin but until she discovered that beautiful voice of hers she WANTED to sound like Janis. There is also Dolly Parton, she of the tiny hourglass figure, the big blonde wigs and the sweet as sugar soprano singing about a bargain store or that she would always love you but please don't mess with that redhead named Jolene.

Probably one of the biggest influences of many American writers was Edgar Allan Poe. His birthday also falls on January 19th. His wonderful macabre poetry, his dark tales of terror, the first detective tale ( he was credited with originating the mystery genre and today the finest in mystery writers receives its Oscar equivalent: the Edgar ).  My own fantasy writing often borders on the dark side and I know where credit is due so thank you Edgar. You were one of my earliest influences. 

 Speaking of writers and also of speeches, who can forget the words spoken so eloquently "I have a dream" said Martin Luther King who was, you got it, another January 19th birthday baby. He has his own national holiday that people celebrate. Today we honor and celebrate the birthdays of those we love and admire on this, a birthday of singers, sisters, writer/poets, and preachers for civil rights We look towards their unbirthday of tomorrow when the world watches as we celebrate another birthday --- the birthday of civility, the birth of a new beginning, a biracial president who will hopefully give hope to the hopeless, and bring back the dignity that this nation has been lacking since its highest office was swindled by a favored son. 

Happy birthday, Libby. And may it continue into tomorrow as we see a new day dawning and a hope for not only our future but for that of our children and theirs.  

SAC