This goes out to everybody who posted about my birthday, to everyone who left me a message on those blogs, and to everybody who stopped by here over the last couple days, be you old friend or new.
No fancy graphics, no clever wordplay, no silliness. This is just, plain, straight-up gratitude. When I started commenting almost two years ago, it was as a diversion, something to do when I was wracked with pain from my continual cluster headaches/migraines. I never dreamed I’d be signed up on almost 50 blogs, much less know literally hundreds of people directly or indirectly. Things just kind of grew, and I just enjoyed the ride.
But since my health crashed, and we moved down here to Ohio, my birthday (and by association, the whole holiday hoopla) became depressing. I was away from family and friends, miserable and sick, and usually without my wife, who took on the “bread-winner” role. I had grown to view this time of the year more with not-quite-annoyance, feeling cheated at the spirit of family and friendship “everybody else” had. This year, with my 50th birthday bearing down, I was feeling downright churlish.
Never…. never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that a band of people, who only know me as the guy leaving the smart-ass comments on their blogs, would set aside time during this season to set up this whole birthday celebration. Whether elaborate or spare, silly, funny, or even informative, each and every blog post was a gift, a tremendous treasure made all the more valuable for the surprise of its’ creation. And to top it all off, people who didn’t even know me added their wishes too, and even traveled here to join my growing little community.
In the light of such truly epic generosity, and (dare I say) love, I find myself without a gift to give in return. Words seem so empty, so hollow, unable to begin to describe the feelings that all of you stirred in me with your friendship and your best wishes.
All I can say is, Thank you. I know I haven’t responded to each of you directly, and I am truly sorry for that – a number of factors in “real life” keep me from spending the time I would like to. So I will say it again, to all the bloggers, commenters, and simply, to all the friends who made this birthday something truly special.
Thank you. Thank you all, so very much. And regardless of what holiday you celebrate at this time of year (even if it be none at all), may it be the most happy, joyous time for all of you. I look forward to a New Year with new friends and old alike, warmed to the deepest part of my soul by what you all did for me on this 50th birthday. Thank you all.
A Windy City boy, lost in rural Ohio, just shooting the breeze.
Don’t mention it, anything for my employees.
Thanks, boss!
Glad to know you (even just blog-style), John. You make this wacky writer land a better (and weirder) place
Happy belated Birthday 
Coming from you, that is indeed high praise.
Thanks!
John … it wasn’t time out of my holiday schedule, but rather part of it as it was a pleasure to do. Besides, I knew you would appreciate it.
Thanks, Frank. The effort was definitely appreciated!
I can’t help but smile that most of the posts came from my side of the family!
Are you trying to create disharmony on Christmas Eve? Oh .. wait .. if you’re NAUGHTY, you get a lump of coal – so if ALL your folk get lumps of coal, you can pass them on to me, and I’ll have a WARM Christmas! Never mind!
Very well stated John
I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!
Thanks, Alex!
It was a pleasure, John. You are one of a kind and we all treasure your friendship. Even if we normally only say it in a snarky way. (Not me, of course. I loathe snark.)
Happy Holidays, John.
Wait- what?
Who are you, and what have you done with Elyse?!?
What do you mean, Guapo? This is Elyse! Humanitarian of the year, and lover of all mankind!
It’s the spirit of Christmas, hijacking my snark. Ho f’ing ho.
I think I have that exact saying o a T-shirt, somewhere around here. A con-going friend in Buffalo had a friend who looked EXACTLY like Santa, year round – about 6′, big belly, white hair and beard. He grew so tired of kids pointing and yelling “Santa!”, that he had a T-shirt made saying “Ho Ho Fucking Ho!”. He wore it to a con, and a group of us ordered a dozen on the spot! (See? Everything I ever needed to know, I learned from sci-fi cons!
)
And a Merry Friggin’ Xmas right back at ya!
Oh Elyse, you’ve never been anything but a kind, warm, loving individual. It’s that incredible love for your fellow man that first brought me to your blog!
All my best, Elyse.
Well, yeah. I DO love all mankind. Just not the stupid ones. Merry Christmas, John. I mean Sir John.
“Just not the stupid ones”? Well, dang, that’s like 5.5 billion off the top, right there!
Thank you, my liege (liege-ess?)!
That was so sincere and sweet! Merry Christmas, John!
And to you, my lady. Thanks!
Thanks John!
And that you enjoyed it, and you have a presence in the sphere is thanks enough.
Well, I’m STILL gonna thank you, sir! And a Merry … whatever!
The world needs to know…are you or are you not L. Ron Hubbard? That was the one question no one dare mention!
C’mon – if I had invented Scientology and bilked all those Hollywood celebs of all their millions, do you REALLY think I’d still be here in Nohio?
No – I am not, nor have I ever been a Communist … er … Scientologist. A lot of OTHER ists, maybe, but not a Scientologist. Besides, my people’s motherships are FAR more awesome!
I think your mothership is probably like an 80s style pimp and Ho party!
Nope – 70s, baby! Shag carpet on floors, wall, AND ceilings! Black light posters everywhere! The bridge has this HUGE disco ball. And the laser shows are NOT to be believed! (Don’t forget the Bee Gees on every comm channel!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And 50 is the new 21, so you’re totally young, vibrant, and should party hardy! =D Glad that everyone has been able to make you feel special and hope your day stays as special as you!
Thanks! Not too sure about the vibrant part most days, but what the hey – beats the alternative!
Oh crap … It happened. Christmas Eve 2012 will be forever known as the fall of an empire. Gotta run … the escape chopper is waiting.
Do you need me to take over the reins of power while you make good your escape? It’s a lousy job, I know, but SOMEBODY’S gotta do it! (Hmm – you write me a killer Birthday post, and less than 48 hours later, you’re FP. Coincidence?
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Fortunately, the copter has wireless … so I can respond. Who knows why … I’m stunned.
Your ascension to FP has been on an auspicious, yet sad evening – we lost Jack Klugman. I chose to include your situation as a bit of light lead-in to the “heavier” news of his passing. http://windycitywonderer.wordpress.com/2012/12/24/late-breaking-news/
Seems I’ve lost two heroes tonight, one figuratively, one literally. Heck of a way to start Christmas!
I didn’t know you were a fellow headache sufferer. Quite a few years back I got a migraine headache that lasted 6 full months. I was throwing up all the time, wearing sunglasses every day, laying in bed with ice packs & heating pads & so f’ing miserable & bitchy! Thank goodness it was between my 2 marriages & I didn’t have to put up with a male in the house on top of everything else. I saw neurologists & all manner of other doctors, had tests up the whazoo & no one could figure out what was causing the headache. Then they started me with different medications & nothing worked. Finally, the doctor told me there was nothing else they could do for me – except he was going to try me with an old, old medication that people didn’t even use anymore. He told me if this didn’t work, then I would just have to learn to live with the headache. I told him to get out the gun & just shoot me right then & there. Fortunately, this medication in conjunction with high blood pressure meds worked. The headache finally went away, unfortunately there were side effects – one of which was the appetite of a horse. I gained a fair amount of weight & have struggled with weight problems ever since. I still suffer from migraines, but they usually only last 12 – 36 hours, with the accompanying after headache “hangover” which can be almost as bad as the headache itself.
Merry Christmas John! Hope you are headache free today & tomorrow & many days to come.
Oh benze, I’m so sorry to hear that. They defined mine as “cluster headaches”. I used to get them for about 4-6 weeks, then I’d go some years until the next group hit. The last group hit in 1999. In the process of trying to treat them (after a buttload of tests showed nothing), my genius doctor sent me to a neurologist who talked to me for 10 minutes, took my pulse and BP, and promptly prescribed me Depakote – a VERY heavy duty anti-depressant that “occasionally helps with cluster headaches”. Yeah – it helped lock me into the cycle, and I’ve had migraines (thankfully, without excessive light and sound sensitivity) ever since. I was on large doses of Vicodin and a couple other painkillers – I’m now down to less than half as much as I was just 8 years ago, and I’m hoping to continue improving, though things have been holding even for the past year or so.
i think I might write a post about my last decade’s “adventure” for those new to me and my blog. Give ‘em the gruesome details that help explain why a big-city boy ended up in the middle of nowhere!
Hope you’re having a Merry Christmas! And thanks for your story – it’s true about that old saying, “misery loves company”. Here’s hoping both our heads are one less pain we need to deal with in the New Year!
Happy Birthday! Wishing you the best.
Thank you! I’ll make it easy for you – don’t go through the effort of wishing me all the best, just join me in wishing the snow stops while I can still get out my front door!
:D
Will do. We got a teeny bit of snow but it’s been raining like crazy. I definitely prefer the rain. Good luck.
One advantage of rain – you don’t have to shovel it. (Or if you DO, you got bigger problems than a messy sidewalk!
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Hey John, happy Belated Birthday and a Happy new Year to you and yours. Lets not go soft on us. We need the edge.
No worries on that front, my friend. Now I just gotta stay dug out of the snow long en ough to catch up on my inbox!