It seems like I just finished celebrating my last birthday when I was hit with another one. Maybe that's because lately I've been stretching my birth-DAY into a week's worth of partying. I figure if I have to get another year older I want as many cakes, free drinks and presents as humanly possible. I, personally don't think that's too much to ask. Besides, everybody knows birthday cakes don't have any calories anyway. ( Well, they don't if you throw it up soon after eating it, that is. A little trick I picked up from my old friend, Kate Moss.)

So, I decided to start my own grass roots movement. Complete and total strangers now come up to me in late November asking "Don't you have a birthday coming up?" I won't rest until my natal anniversary is a national holiday. Unfortunately, Dec. 6th is very close to Dec. 7th, yet another day that will live in infamy. The legislation is slowly working it's way through the congress. You'll all thank me one day for getting a Monday off!

The older I get, not that I'm getting any older, I seem to appreciate the LIFE more than the years. I celebrate for an entire week, kind of like Mardi Gras. But, in my case, it's more like Smarti Gras. If you show me your boobs I can't guarantee you'll get beads, though.

I'm also learning that age is all relative. My 93 year old grandmother recently called me to tell me about this "young fella" she knows who just had knee replacement surgery on both knees. Thinking that was an odd surgery for a young man I asked "How old is this guy?" She replied "Oh, he's young!....He's 72!"

To add insult to aging injury, my friend Sandie related to me a story about her last birthday. She tried to keep it quiet but someone she worked with asked her how old she was on her "special day". Sandie said "Let's just say it's a major birthday...." The coworker gasped and said "Honey, you look great for 60!!!" Unfortunately, Sandie had just turned 50.

This year was a good one. I, once again had cake at the gym. It's sort of a tradition with me. And once again, nobody refused it.

I am blessed with good friends who showered me with gifts. My life long friend Cindy made me a cape that I had asked for. (Who asks for a CAPE for a gift?!) It's handmade and perfect, just the right color too. She also bought me a gorilla teddy bear. Knowing I have a penchant for simian things, she gave me one with long blonde hair. "Where did you find one with long blonde hair?!" I asked. She said "I had to buy a blonde hairpiece and sew it on....It didn't come that way!" After I stopped laughing, I said "I think there is something wrong with you!" She laughed and said "I think so too....The bear also came with assorted outfits including: A Santa outfit with beard, a biker jacket with sunglasses, a work-out outfit exactly like one I already wear, a safari outfit and leopard thong. Her son bought me a T-shirt that reads "I'm Famous In North Dakota!", an inside joke. (My apologies to anyone in North Dakota.) My web-designer, Kelli Salkin gave me a beautiful designer shirt. I'm still looking for a nice place to wear it.

My gym rat pals, who look for any excuse to drink took me out to a local watering hole to celebrate. As I was standing in the bar, a short haired blonde woman came up behind me and pulled on my ponytail. She muttered something about liking my hair. A little later all my friends were laughing and not letting me in on the joke. "We'll tell you later..." they all said. The next day I was told that the blonde and her friends were all taking my picture with their camera phones without my knowledge. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have gone over and posed with them" I asked. "We knew you'd do that and didn't want you to embarrass US!" My pals! It was easy to forgive when they bought me a half dozen drinks....They were weak!

So, I'm gearing up for another birthday already this year. I'm just glad I'm still upright and on this side of the grass....

This story is dedicated to my friend, Al "AJ" Haskell who recently passed away at 59. Celebrate your LIFE, friends!

          
Pictures

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CJ and his new friend...... um.... CJ!	A couple of blonde monkeys?	He's famous in a couple other places too!	CJ with his friend Cindy
No one know's for sure!	I think there's a couple candles missing there...	CJ's favorite food... Birthday cake!	... and here it is!
More monkeying around	and yet more monkey business...	CJ and his new cape	another pose.
How many crunches for those?	Don't you have those backwards?	hmmm.....	Everyone came to the party!
Another beautiful birthday cake!	All the gymrats join in!	CJ's friend Jen, helping herself to some cake	Trying to not get icing all over the equipment
CJ survives one more birthday.	And none the worse for wear from all the sugar!!!