A Day in the Life

Woke up, fell out of bed,
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
And looking up I noticed I was late.

           ~ John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Today is March 31, 2017, my 58th birthday. Just another day in the life.

The alarm went off at 5:04 AM, as it does at least 3 days a week.

I got to the gym for some early stretching before the start of my 6:00 AM group training workout.  Scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, it’s usually at least a three-ring circus with whining, groaning, moaning and bitching at our trainer.  Today it happened to be me along with gym-buds Rich Horn and Andy Steele.

Rich, “Buns of Steel” Horn is doing mountain climbers in the background.  Andy Steele, who really is married to Danielle Steele, is in the foreground.  Yes, Andy usually wears some Caribbean or Mexican drinking themed t-shirt to work out in at 6:00 AM; Andy’s all about balance.

Of course our trainer, Kevin Keefer, would be mildly disappointed if I didn’t give an old man’s homage to  “Sun’s out, Guns Out!”

After our morning torture it was off to meet with my Friday breakfast crew at Peppermill Restaurant.  In addition to “Buns of Steel” and Danielle’s husband, Tom Egan joins us when he’s in town.  Tom’s nickname is “Dirt” because he’s old (his social security number is 000-00-084)!  He’s really too “wise” to get up for a 6:00 AM workout, but I do look kinda-sorta “youngish” sitting next to him, don’t I?

 

Birthday breakfast:  2 eggs over easy, wheat toast, 4 “crispy” bacon strips and small bowl o’ grits.

I’m in the office by 8:30. By 8:34 our Office Manager Erin Hensel (no publishable nickname), already has piece of this sinfully delicious chocolate-brownie-fudge cake with vanilla icing and rainbow sprinkles on my desk.  It’s like Crack. Once you start, you can not stop.

Before noon, I, along with Erin and office mates Sam Kennedy and Sarah Clippinger (the twin sirens of  “I only had one piece!”),  have already polished off more than half of the pan.  This stuff should be illegal.

I head home for lunch and hang with daughter Caity and granddaughter Gracie in from Connecticut for the weekend.  Gracie and I bond over our shared love of eating cheddar.

After a birthday nap the rest of family shows for dinner.  My in-law’s, Joe and Carol Moomaw, son Chris and his bride Lindsey, along with their boys, Levi and Nash.  What the dinner table looks like when most are seated:

 

 

Of course, it’s not really a party if I don’t get to play horsey.

The gift of family really is what makes growing old so delightful. This is why I set my alarm for 5:04.  If you want to play horsey, you have to keep working at it.

 

A birthday is just another day in the life with friends and family;  I wouldn’t have it any other way.