Forty Years Lucky

I have been lucky since forty years ago, today. I had parents who showed me how to love by loving me: a father who gave me every advantage, including his wisdom, and a mother who lived like experience was the only thing that mattered. I have had friends who loved generously, forgave ungrudgingly, counseled gently, and often humoured a myopic fool. I have had lovers who gave more than they asked for. Some, more than they should have. Some, giving up on me as a lover, still did not give up on me as a man. In my lowest moments, I have had people who sat with me through the night, even when it was dark for weeks. I have had mentors who invested in me selflessly. I have traveled. I have had new opportunities come at just the right time. And I am lucky today. I have my health and my hair (so far) and eyes that don't yet squint at the page. I get to be in love every day. My parents are both very much alive, and both very much in my life. Friends from forever are still here with me: some, almost inexplicably. I have work that challenges my brain, and bosses I respect. People still take time to show me new things; I'm still learning. I am a lucky man. At forty, I can think of no greater fortune than to have been humbled by wonder so often, surrounded by so much love, and so seldom touched by tragedy. * * * Press play. With the sound up. ..