April 3, 2022

Fifty-two spins around the sun…

I remember when I was my daughter’s age how anyone over forty was over the hill. According to that, I am now over the hill and hurtling down the other side. Strangely enough, I don’t feel that much older than I did when I was in my twenties – mentally anyway. Physically, well that’s another story altogether.

This was my first birthday since 2019 when there were no restrictions on my ability to go out for dinner or enjoy some drinks. Covid managed to screw up my fiftieth birthday plans in 2022. Then when I thought I could do something for my fifty-first we were again put into health-care restrictions. 

This year I was determined it would be different. 

What great timing it was to have a concert in my mountain home. We partied into the late night and celebrated my birthday from 5700 feet in elevation. Although mentally I think I got a bit higher than that.

I woke up early – because that’s what we do when we get over the hill. Even though I was up well past midnight I still woke up at seven o’clock in the morning. Which was a good thing because I got out and skied the fresh groomed terrain of Big White. My good friend and brother from another mother Brett was in town from Calgary and we rode lap after lap of groomed runs. We also went to the alpine and found some fresh turns. We explored the whole hill, even finding more fresh snow in the Easter Chutes. 

30,000 vertical feet and twenty-five runs later we called it a day well spent. There is something very pure and exhilarating about spending a day on skis. I couldn’t have found a better way to spend my birthday. Except in knee-deep powder of course. But that was reserved for the next day. 

Fulfilled by our great day of skiing we joined a group of friends at The Globe Cafe’ and Tapas Bar. I was very pleased to have so many good friends take the time to come and join me to celebrate my birthday. We took full advantage of the newly lifted restrictions – at one point there were as many as fourteen people crowded around the two tables my wife reserved. 

Victor was our very attentive waiter and it was extremely cool to be treated so well by the owners and staff of our favourite Big White apres-ski bar. Even better were the musical talents of Jon Bos who rocked the room. We danced and sang, it was a feeling of just being normal, of not worrying anymore. Of course, Victor and I celebrated having such a good name.

The thoughtful staff at Globe also put a happy birthday banner over my table and bought me a drink. I was humbled by all the attention. The funny thing was there was a lady in the bar at a friend’s table and it was also her birthday. I apologized for stealing all the thunder of the day. But she just laughed and was glad I was receiving so much love.

Some people don’t even tell anyone when they are having a birthday, they rather it was kept quiet. I chatted with one of my friends at the table with me and he said we should always celebrate our big day. A birthday is a milestone, a record of making it another time around the sun. So why not celebrate and let everyone know you made it.

Every year, every day, every moment could be your last. So we might as well enjoy all those moments and share a connection with those we love. Because we never know when that moment is our last.

Happy Birthday to me and everyone else on their special day.