Celebrate Geezer Day ! Bill's 69 Today !!

"How do I love thee ? Let me count the ways". ....... immortal first line of the XLIIIrd Sonnet to the Portuguese .....words uttered by Elizabeth Barret Browning to her poet husband , Robert Browning. Any semantic parallels drawn between the above and what follows is purely in the mind of the beholder......... although I would surmise that some degree of healthy love is present in all solid friendships !!

AH , friendship ! Friendship is of long standing , durable , unfailing..... like my parents' old Westinghouse fridgidaire , purchased in 1952 , the year I met Bill in Brockville , Ontario .... the only one they ever had..... and still purrng along just fine down in my basement where I have converted it into a master freezer.

Ah , friendship ! Friendship is sharing with the special other , being faithful and truthful in one's promises to that special other , etc......... like the time I shared my trusty sander by lending it to Bill for a few days....... he promised to bring it back and he did !! ...... ten years later !!

Ah , friendship !! Friendship oft requires certain sacrifices by lending a helping hand to buddies....... like the time back in the seminary when I called on you and your tender sweet voice to round out our female quartet for the operetta HMS Pinafore. You honoured my behest by bravely donning  the hoop skirt and babutchka ..... amid the cheers , whistles , jeers and applause..... and stood right there beside me on stage with Berny Lunney and Jim Mooney on my right. Some might call it "guts "... I call it friendship !!

Ah , friendsdhip !!  Friendship is jocular , jovial ........ generous , etc......... like back in October 1968 when I held Kevin's christening during the Liquor Store strike in Quebec.... not a drop being  sold anywhere in the province.....and my dear , sweet old Dad drove up from neighbouring New Brunswick with a carful of booze....... and you volunteed to play barman for the occasion. The picture above catches you and Dad being very  "jocular-jovial" and just thinking how OLD we both thought he was back then ..... he was 69 and you were 29 !! Happy 69th birthday , buddy !!

So , my dear readers and friends , should you be holding a yard , lawn or garage sale tomorrow the 27th of January..... and some old codger who looks a lot like Morty Seinfeld  shuffles up to your table and offers you $ 7  for the used microwave you've marked up  $10 ...... pat him kindly and gently on the head and let him have it for $ 8....... adding , " That's for Bill.... it's his birthday !! He's 69 today ! "

P.S. Bill and wife , Ann , are presently hibernating in Florida !.......and he stalks this site regularly so , if you have time , write a big Happy Birthday , Bill ...... as you pass by . !