30 August 2024

I recall a drunken birthday that happened many years ago when we were living in Burnaby. My Rosemary had gone to visit her mother in Brockville. I was on my bed on my birthday feeling very sad and lonely. I called up a friend. All I got was an answering machine so I sang “Happy birthday to me…” and hung up. I went downstairs and put some strawberries in a blender with some lemon juice and lots of rum.

On the bed I was really feeling no pain, but I did hear the door downstairs and Rosemary said, “Alex I did not want you to be alone on your birthday so here I am.” She came up and saw me in my condition on the bed. Her only comment was, “How could you do this?”

After all these years that have passed by I am now able to smile and only wish I could hear Rosemary open the door. It is not my birthday tonight. But it could happen tomorrow.