My 30th Birthday Remembered
October 28, 2005- The day before I turned 30. Many family and friends came to our house to celebrate my 30 years of life. My beautiful wife had been planning this get together for a week or so. The food was good, the cake was good, we all had a good time. When it came time to open presents I received, quite possibly the best birthday gift I have ever received.
It was from Dawn (the beautiful wife I referred to previously). Before I unwrapped it I could tell that it was a book...it felt very bookish. As I removed the wrapping paper I saw that the book was called "Conversations with Bono". For those of you who don't know, I am a huge U2 fan. I think they are easily one of the greatest bands of all time. Bono is the "front man" for the band. If you didn't know that you seriously need to acquaint yourself with them. It would be good for you.
I was extremely pleased with the book. I looked at the cover. Turned it over. Looked at the back cover. Looked at the front again. "Wow. I really like this book!" When I looked up from the picture of Bono I saw everyone in the room looking at me as if something was still going to happen...like I hadn't even received the gift yet...they were all smiling...I am beginning to feel a little awkward at this point...so, I smile back...people begin to lean into their stares...coming up from their seats..."Good Lord! Where are my manners?"...I thank my beautiful wife for the great book...people are smiling so big now they are starting to look as stupid as I feel..."what is wrong with these people?"..."do they want me to read them the book?"..."I'll pass is around"..."then they will have to quit looking at me"...
About that time, Dawn tells me to open the book. So, I open the cover and inside is two tickets to the U2 concert in Dallas then next night!!! Now I understand why everyone was looking at me the way they were! I would be in Dallas. In the American Airlines Center. At a U2 concert on my exact birthday! I told you this was the best birthday gift ever!
Birthdays are usually fun, but some ages are more milestones than others. I remember turning 10. "Double digits baby! All my fingers!". 13 is a big one. "I'm a teenager". 16. "Legal driving age". 18. "Legal voting age". 20. "All of my fingers and toes!". 21. "Legal drinking age". After that, the milestone birthdays sort of trail off. 30 is a big one though. It's one I will never forget.
October 29, 2005- My birthday. In my mind I will always see myself walking into the big 3-0 to my favorite U2 songs with my beautiful wife and best friend at my side, both of us singing and dancing with 10,000 other people, all of us connected because of the band.
Experience what we experienced that night by clicking the links below. These are the exact concert we were at!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFaIK-PtfUU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbUVynqh91g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBVDOjOb1OU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVkmRZ5RQmY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9KWiavUXrQ
Thanks to my wife for a night I will never forget.