Happy birthday to me!

As most people in contact with me know, today is my birthday. I always think it will get lost in the shuffle, (I don't have any false notions about my own importance,) but just in case anyone didn't know, facebook has duly updated the world at large. And I have been overwhelmed once again by the number of people who took the time to wish me a happy birthday. It is a nice feeling to be remembered, and much appreciated.

 For the record, I am 57, and happy to be here. The best gift I will ever get is another day to wake up, because it has not necessarily been a given. I had a couple of very close calls in my thirties, and I definitely should have been gone at 40. I am a testament to the fact that a young doctor is not a bad thing. (Even if he did look like he was still in high school....)

Living the dream....

When people ask me in passing how I am doing, I usually reply,

"Living the dream."

It is an off the cuff statement, meant to be more sarcastic than serious, and in line with my usual attitude that life is hard, and then you die.  But today, for this day, I have been reminded that I am, indeed, living the dream, and I am grateful to be here for it.