Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to Me!

[RetroLounge]

Yes, it is my birthday today, and I was thinking...

Age 11: Well, I remember nothing about it. Just another skinny kid in the suburbs of Chicago hanging out and being a kid.

Age 22: Just begining a long nasty decline. It was going to get bad and stay that way for a long time. But I didn't know it then, and was having a hell of a lot of "fun" on the way to homelessness, addiction, self-abuse, suicide attempts and the gut-wrenching terror of being one of the lost.

Age 33: Yikes. What happenned? In Milwaukee, 4 yrs Sober, Divorced, In grad school, living in a studio, no car, no real job, starting over, feeling not old, but just like I was late for the party.

and today.

Age 44: Whoo Hoo! Damn, life is good. Woke up early and climbed on the treadmill while watching music videos. My wife and two kids had presents wrapped and ready for me, and nice cards two. They woke up and I got big birthday hugs from the kids while they helped unwrap the presents. My wife made a big breakfast for us. Parents called to say happy birthday and that they love me. and I get to lounge around all day in my very own house and do nothing but exist, happy, joyous and free.

RL

[Bronco69]

1. Happy Birthday!

You've come a long way baby! Congrats! :-)

[RetroLounge]

15. Thanks! It's been a heck of a journey so far...

:hi:

RL

[GOPFighter]

2. Wow, that's some rebound!

Way to go and happy birthday.

[RetroLounge]

16. Thanks!

RL

[babylonsister]

3. I love happy posts!

Happy Birthday, RL! Many more!!!!:party:
Today is our 23rd anniversary, so that's something else to ponder on for us. It's all good!

[RetroLounge]

17. "Today is our 23rd anniversary"

Happy anniversary!

Happy posts rock!

RL

[Lady Effingbroke]

4. Happy Birthday, RetroLounge!

:party: :bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce: :party:

[RetroLounge]

18. Thanks!

:party: :bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce: :party:

:hi:

RL

[SarahB]

5. Happy birthday!

:party:

[RetroLounge]

19. Thank you most kindly!

:hi:

RL

[eyesroll]

6. Happy b-day, RL!

It sounds like you've had a great day so far today. Congratulations! :party:

[RetroLounge]

20. Thanks. Yes, so far a great do-nothing relaxing day.

But gotta get up off my ass and make lunch for the junior retros...

RL

[sundog]

7. happy birfday!

:7

[RetroLounge]

21. Dude!

:D

:hi:

RL

[fishnfla]

8. Good on ya'!!

what was once lost is found. good for you

[RetroLounge]

22. It's nice to be found...

:D

RL

[Longgrain]

9. Hey B'day RetroLounge

Keep 'em coming!

:hi: :bounce: :toast: :party: :toast: :bounce: :hi:

[RetroLounge]

23. Hopefully many more...

:bounce:

RL

[joeybee12]

10. Happy, Happy Birthday!

:party: :toast:

[RetroLounge]

24. Thanks joeybee12!

:toast:

RL

[bobthedrummer]

11. Happy Birthday, RL.

:toast:
:smoke:
:party:
:hi:

[RetroLounge]

25. Thank Bob!

Just got upstairs after cranking the jukebox in the basement and dancing with the kids to 50's rockabilly.

:headbang:

RL

[Cadence]

12. Ya! That's what I'm talkin about! Slippers and a bathrobe

doin a whole lotta nothin! Well done! Happy Birthday! :party:

[RetroLounge]

27. "Slippers and a bathrobe"

and an old floppy hat!

:hi:

RL

[auntAgonist]

13. Happy Birthday .....

will there be cake?

heh.

Isn't life grand, enjoy your special day.

[RetroLounge]

28. Cake? Well, of course!

We are going to have cake at lunch time...

Life is so much better than the alternative...

:hi:

RL

[Wapsie B]

14. Happy Birthday !

:toast: :beer:

[RetroLounge]

29. Thanks bushwentawol!

Make mine a mountain dew!

:beer::beer::beer::beer::beer:

RL

[koneko]

26. Happy Happy Birthday!!!

and MANY happy returns! :party:

[RetroLounge]

30. Thanks!

Love your sig line!

:hi:

RL

[mzmolly]

31. Happy Birthday Dear Retroooooooooooo,

Happy Birthday to UUUUUUUUU! :) :party:

[RetroLounge]

36. Hey mzmolly! Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[ralps]

32. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear RetroLounge, Happy Birthday to you!
:hug:

[RetroLounge]

37. Hey Ralps!

Thanks for the hug...

RL

[Amaya]

33. Happy Birthday!

:party: :toast: :hi:

[RetroLounge]

38. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[Floogeldy]

34. You say it's your birthday

You say it's your birthday
It's not my birthday too--yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.

Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party.

I would like you to dance--Birthday
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance-Birthday
I would like you to dance--Birthday
Dance

You say it's your birthday
Well it's not my birthday too--yeah
You say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.

[RetroLounge]

39. na na na na na na - na na

I love the Beatles!

:hi:

RL

[bigwillq]

35. Happy Birthday!

:toast:

Way to go on turning your life around!:yourock:

[RetroLounge]

40. I had lots of help in that regard.

thanks!

:hi:

RL

[Bertha Venation]

41. Wow. What a tale, RL.

Congratulations on your 44th -- here's to 44 more happy and healthy years. L'chaim!

[RetroLounge]

43. Thanks Bertha Venation!

I'll take 44 more, yes, that would be nice!

:hi:

RL

[RevolutionaryActs]

42. Happy Birthday!

:bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce:

[RetroLounge]

44. Thanks Rev!

:bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce:
:bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce:
:bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce:
:bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce:

:hi:

RL

[AwakeAtLast]

45. Happy Birthday

You share your day with my daughter! How is it having a birthday so close to Valentine's Day?

[RetroLounge]

46. Hello WakeMeUp and thanks!

We always had my Grandfather on the 11th, Abe Lincoln on the 12th, Me on the 13th, and then Valentines day.

Never much of a problem.

:hi:

RL