Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Adding Another Año(Year)



How old would you be
if you
didn't know how
old you are?

- Satchel Paige


March 19 is the 78th day of the year (except during Leap Year when it is the 79th). It's also my birthday.

I don't like this business of getting older. Depending on the day, I either lie about my age or just avoid the subject completely. I do like celebrating my birthday, however, because it's better than the alternative. I guess if I go by what Satchel Paige asks, I'd be 25.

The year I was born, my mom and aunt were pregnant at the same time. My cousin, who was supposed to be born around March 17, arrived March 10. I was actually supposed to be born at the end of February, butI waited around until March 19. I think it did that because I didn't want to be born in winter. Oh, I know some of you will say spring starts on March 20, but there is no way that you'll ever convince me that it doesn't start on March 19. (Of course, if I lived in the southern hemisphere, today would be the first day of autumn or the last day of summer, either of which would be okay with me.)

March 19 is the feast of St. Joseph, who is a favorite with Italians. Because I was born on March 19, my Italian grandfather wanted my mother to name me Josephine (or Pasqualina because it was the Easter season). My parents decided they liked Christine better. No offense to anyone named Josephine or Pasqualina, but I like Christine better, too.


The March flower is the daffodil, and the gemstone is aquamarine. I like both of those.

Famous March 19 birthdays:
Wyatt Earp (1848)
William Jennings Bryan (1860)
Chief Justice Earl Warren (1891)
Novelist Irving Wallace (1916)
Actress Ursula Andress (1936)

Actress Glenn Close (1947)
Actor Bruce Willis (1955)

Famous March 19 Events
The first bank robbery on American soil took place (1831).
The planet Pluto is photographed for the first time (1916).
The first American air-combat mission is launched (1916).
Gambling is legalized in Nevada (1931).
The Academy Awards are first televised (1953).
Elvis Presley buys Graceland (1957).
Bob Dylan releases his first album (1962).
Tommy, the film version of The Who's rock opera, opens (1975).
The US House of Representatives starts broadcasting via C-Span (1979)
Operation Iraqi Freedom begins (2003). (This event is a huge thorn in my side, and I'll leave it at that.)

The photo today is from my second birthday. I had two cakes and two candles on each one. My cousins Marge, Loree and Paul (left to right) have dibs on the chocolate cake.

Happy Spring, Everyone!!
or
Happy Fall To Everyone South of the Equator!

19 comments:

sandals said...

Happy Birthday, Chris!

Anonymous said...

You gave us everything but the kitchen sink. You failed to tell us how old your are???

I guess 39. Am I right? Do I get a prize?

Have a happy birthday.

Abraham Lincoln
Brookville, Ohio

Anonymous said...

Parabéns a você nesta data querida, que tenha tudo de bom, muitos amigos também ...

Jim Klenke said...

I'm with OML. If you are not going to tell us your age, how old is your cousin?

Happy Birthday

Kate said...

First of all, I sent you a message offline. PLEASE read it!

Then ¡Feliz cumpleaños!

Age is relative, altho I refuse to reveal mine. I now just laugh and tell whomever asks, "Sorry but I would NEVER tell my age nor ask anyone else!", and depending upon the person, I'd add something a bit sarcastic about asking that type of rude question (altho usually that's not necessary because the listener is either amused or bemused).

Chris said...

Abe: I'm nine days younger than my cousin.

Jim: My cousin is nine days older than I.

:-)

Fénix - Bostonscapes said...

Happy birthday, Chris! Two cakes! That's my kind of b-day party. :)

Did Marge grow up to be a gorgeous lady? She looks beautiful in that photo.

Lady Di Tn said...

HAPPY BURPDAY CHRIS AND MANY MORE.

In my youth I thought I would die at 35 and as the year approached I was so relieved that now I just celebrate that I am getting further and further from that dreaded number 35.

Janet said...

Happy birthday, Chris! You were cute!

Clueless in Boston said...

Happy Birthday and many many more. I hope you continued the tradition of two cakes at every birthday party:)

Lynette said...

I love this photo, Chris! Happy, happy birthday. And I asked Mama what a mayhaw is--she said the best she can remember it's some sort of berry from a tree and she remembers for sure hearing of mayhaw jelly. I Googled it and found this Web site that ought to help you, for the Louisiana Mayhaw Association: http://www.mayhaw.org/

Small City Scenes said...

Happy birthday Chris and happy Spring and St. Joseph's day. MB

Jilly said...

Happy birthday, Chris! A day late, sorry. March 19th was my Australian ex-husband's birthday too. He was a wise soul.

George Townboy said...

How did I miss this yesterday???

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (Belatedly, lol.)

BTW, if it had been Pasqualina, you'd like that better than Christine right now!! Christine is a beautiful name, though!

Halcyon said...

Sorry I didn't check your blog yesterday. Happy belated birthday, I hope it was a good one. :)

isa said...

Belated Birthday wishes!
And judging by the photo, you haven't changed much...

(so if not Louis Vuitton, which store did he shop in?)

Denton said...

Happy birthday Chris and best wishes for many more ... Your birthday concedes with that of some greats as well as some infamous events.

rc said...

Estas son las mañaniiiiitas... (Jope you know the song)

¡Feliz Cumpleaños Chris!

smilnsigh said...

A belated Happy Birthday to you! From another gal who has a March Birthday. :-)