Celebration
Last Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006, was a kind of special day to me personally. It was worth mentioning because I have finally reached a monumental milestone in my life. Can you believe it I am now a thirty years old man? Yet, in my mind it seems that my days of coming–of-age (out of adolescence) would be still so vivid and fresh as if it were yesterday. Time really flies.
My birthday celebration started early from last Friday evening when three buddies of mine "hijacked" me to a trendy and hip bar which is not far from The Street. I have to say I was impressed that my friends tried very hard with their "collective vigor and tricks "to get me drunk and hook me up with girls at that bar. Fortunately I "outsmarted" them and managed to stay sober and restrained while having tons of fun. Speaking of girls there were actually three of them passed me their phone numbers on napkins (one put fresh lips print on it to show her creativity) through waitresses when many drinkers joined my friends sang "Happy Birthday" to me. For the whole night my friends were teasing me as well as cajoling me to approach girls at the bar and asked them out. We laughed and joked men's fantasy* and weakness, it was just hilarious and clowning moments in which we were acting out as a bunch of adolescent school boys. It seemed that we would never fully grown up, at least in the bottom of our hearts.
In the mid of those loud and ludicrous moments I was thinking of words written by Joseph Addison (1672-1719) English essayist, poet, and statesman; "Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief." It reminded me that even though our birthdays would be the primary means by which we measure our lives and achievements, but without friendship and their loyalties any our successes would be paled. To me , some joy and triumph of our life may be realized from these simple gathering times around our friends with whom we burgeon together. It is partly because of them and the bonding cultivated through years we walk onto our own time line of life in good time and bad one.
Thanks to my age-wised wisdom and reserved maturity, I walked out of the bar with clear head on my shoulder. On my way going home I felt blessed, delighted and extremely peaceful as I was catapulting myself backward though time, going over what I did passing year, five, ten; even twenty years ago. The reviewing of past actually offered me a sense of completion, accomplishment, and appreciation including those lessons I learned painfully. I couldn't help but giving my thanks to all the people who have loved, trusted and supported me and are still doing at this very minute. I was also nerves, anxious and, of cause, anticipating about the next day (Saturday) because I was going to open gifts boxes I've got.
Note: *Most of us, men, have fantasies about to be with beautiful women on one night stand basis. Nevertheless, many of us are able to differentiate between "wishful thinking" and reality. Further, we understand what consist of our moral responsibilities as well.
