Birthday 2025

It is now sixty-one years. I am still too many years from Medicare, and my COBRA insurance runs out in December ($780 a month). I must find health insurance soon to fill the gap until I am 65. I will be applying for Social Security before my 62nd birthday. Thus, sixty-one comes with challenges, but I knew they would come; I did not expect Trump and Elon to be the main risks.

My birthday was fantastic, and family and friends met me at The Beggar’s Banquet in East Lansing to celebrate it in the early evening. Deborah made a cake and brought it to the restaurant, beating me there by a few minutes. I picked up Leta at her house and got her there, using her handicap parking spot to get a closer parking spot.  We still had to walk a block.

There was a non-electric car parked in a charge parking spot, growl.

Dinner was chaotic, as our waiter was the only waiter on Thursday night. There were multiple large groups, including ours. The food was OK, but not as good as it once was (or my memory, like many, seems better than it was in the past). But the venue worked for a birthday party, and we all enjoyed the time. Deborah arranged and then lit the candles, and a familiar song was sung. I managed not to spit on the cake.

There was a slight sadness as Susie was not there, and ‘Elric’ Anderson, who was last seen by us at The Beggar’s Banquet, passed away in November. I am constantly distracted on my birthday as I think about all of them.

Remembering from the 2000s, I once had a birthday on a business trip in India. The hotel staff, learning I was there on my birthday, made me a cake. I was flying early, and they had it ready at 6AM. The staff and I enjoyed the cake before I caught my taxi to the airport for a day trip. Then, at AFS SAP in Bangalore, I also had a cake with the developers who work on the software I supported for Nike. It was kind, and everyone loves a party. On my return, the same day, the hotel bar had a small party for me. It was a crazy day!

I rose later in the morning (it was my birthday) and started on the blog once I was dressed. I picked a white dress shirt and green sweater vest. It is my birthday, and I like dress shirts. Breakfast was complimentary in the lobby, and I headed down to write the blog and have breakfast. I spent a few hours writing and, on my return to my room, discovered my room had been cleaned (they did not clean it yesterday). I then went down to the front desk, got a $20 broken, and gave a tip to the cleaning staff.

Next, I got my hat and coat (it was cold in Michigan and snowed on me yesterday), and headed out to see Mom Wild in Air Hyundai Red. In a blur, I crossed part of East Lansing, Lansing, and Haslett and arrived, only having to turn around once. Mom Wild was up and unhappy. I spent an hour trying to calm her and be supportive. Lunch came, and with promises to see her again that evening, I headed out.

While Deborah claims I missed many gas stations in the area, I did not see one for some time. I was of the opinion that you could buy pet food (there seemed to be stores everywhere for that) more easily than gas. I finally found a Shell station and then tried to remember the process for gas cars. I have an EV, and Oregon is a full-service state. I managed to perform the task, though the car was still running without loss or injury to myself, property, or others.

Next, I stopped by The People’s Kitchen, a high-end former food truck joint. It has a Mad-Max edgy decor, but the menu is high-end and imaginative. I sat at the bar. I was looking for something easy and soon had a delicious cup of soup, and they supplied a dessert at no charge. The drinks looked complex and likely expensive, but instead, I went for Diet Coke in a tiki glass as I did not want to nap today (my usual reaction to lunch drinks). I made the tip include the full price of the dessert and thanked them.

One of the staff asked me how old I was, and I replied 19. This got lots of laughs (they decided not to card me). David suggested later on a text that I should have picked something more believable, like 29. Hmmm.

And I think that will cover the day for what goes in the blog. It was a lovely trip this week. Thursday is a travel day, and I will just pack up, walk a bit, and then head to Detroit to return Air Hyundai Red and get on a plane home to Oregon.