Today is Earl’s seventieth birthday; and, if you’re a regular reader, you know my gift to him is an office makeover, a la reality TV. I hired strong men to help me move things around. I purchased a new monitor and a new TV. I even rewired the office so that it was up to speed with current technology. I was glad to do it, and Earl was most appreciative.
But what I liked most about the entire day – from an observer’s point of view — was going out to dinner and reminiscing.about Earl’s life. He is not one for particular introspection, so when the occasion arises I glom onto it. And, as we sat in Tosi’s (St. Joseph’s premier restaurant), he recalled a variety of events in his life that possibly enabled him to be where he is today.
There were marital choices, professional business choices, and location choices – just like anyone who has reached this age has experienced. But Earl’s choices were Earl’s and nobody else’s. They make him who he is.
And who is that?
Well, I can’t say for others. But for me, the choices he’s made have led him to be in St. Joseph, Michigan, with me, in a house that is far larger than we need but of which we use every square inch. His choices also led him to be revving up a real estate career in St. Joseph, instead of downshifting. Which means our life could get crazy in the next couple years.
It’s okay. He needs to be busy, and I can amuse myself. So I say Happy Birthday Earl and whatever you want to do in the year ahead is okay with me.
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