Friday thing + what's good : me
...the loving & giving* (and obviously humble) one...
On this anniversary of my birth, my favorite holiday,1 I’m combining my Friday thing with the weekly what’s good. It’s a gift2 from me to you, for celebrating me!
Thank us so much.
In poetry: Ted Kooser is what you get by combining the stable insurance man/poet parts of Wallace Stevens + the sweet Midwestern teacher/dad Tim Walz. I love his calm voice & loving eye, even when addressing (but obliquely, politely, Midwesternly) harder topics. When I taught, I required everyone to participate in Poetry Out Loud at the lowest level, at least - choose a poem, read & analyze, recite to someone at some point - and one student, a sometimes surly self-proclaimed #NeverPoetry kid, chose Kooser’s poem “Abandoned Farmhouse” every year,3 at first because it was a shorter one but as he grudgingly read it repeatedly and talked about the imagery, he realized he actually liked the quiet, if sorrowful, story inside. Ted Kooser = magic.
Here’s one of his that speaks to me about joy + aging, and probably more than a little bit about impending death. But kindly.
A Happy Birthday by Ted Kooser
This evening, I sat by an open window
and read till the light was gone and the book
was no more than a part of the darkness.
I could easily have switched on a lamp,
but I wanted to ride this day down into night,
to sit alone and smooth the unreadable page
with the pale gray ghost of my hand.In art/music/history: Though it was a spectacularly grim year in many ways, there were Some Other Great4 Things That Debuted in 1968.
Plymouth Road Runner - My mom had one of the first! And my dad got a 1970. They were/are Very Cool5 Parents.
Mattel’s Hot Wheels - Of course I got these + the race track within a few years.
Rosemary’s Baby (movie) - OMG. Obviously I didn’t watch it the year I was born but I read Ira Levin’s terrifying novel in college6 and when I finally saw the movie…well. Also superbly crafted, everyone in every scene is worth watching but especially Oscar-winner Ruth Gordon who deserved every award ever, frankly.
Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” - Redding started writing this at a friend’s houseboat in 1967, while trying to get some solace from touring & facing fans at his hotel. He finished the lyrics a couple months later with guitarist Steve Cropper, then they recorded it shortly before Redding’s tragic death in December. Upon release in January 1968 it became the first posthumous #1 single in the US. Though they didn’t get gospel singers backing in a re-recording as Redding had hoped, Cropper remixed the final version with the seagulls & crashing waves Redding wanted.
Olympics in Mexico City - Specifically, the Tommie Smith & John Carlos (and Peter Norman in solidarity) raised fist salute on the medal podium. The iconic photos and Victory Salute monument [that I recently saw at San Jose State University] are powerful on their own, but the full story of their decision is even more so. It was not an impulsive move; these men, including white Australian fellow Olympian Norman7 who also wore an OPHR (Olympic Project for Human Rights) button, were deeply convicted about establishing equality & equity for Black Americans not only in sports but in all aspects of society.
Beginning of Joan Miró’s The navigator’s hope series of paintings
Bright spots in darkness In bargains: I love my birthday because I like being alive in the world, and I enjoy being celebrated.8 (To an extent).9 Things like the very shouty clapping birthday song at Red Robin or having to wear a festive hat in order to get dessert with a candle are not my favorites [yet I endure for free treats] but there are so many other generous + delightful deals10 out here that I have uncovered.
For your planning:Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai - I have discussed this local treasure before11 and will be there early on birthday morning scooping my free DOZEN12 of delicious mini-doughnuts plus a large Heart of Gold chai latte. Makes waking up another year older that much sweeter. Literally.
Panera - Directly after picking up my box of doughnuts, I will grab a free Kitchen Sink cookie to save for later.
Krispy Kreme - Another doughnut, another breakfast. #ChocolateKremeFilledFTW
Burgerville - The beauty of their free milkshake is that I can get it anytime before September; the hard part is deciding between Hazelnut Chocolate and Portland Cold Brew.
Chipotle - A good, less sugar/higher protein lunch break with free guac.
Black Rock Coffee Bar - When it’s time to caffeine up, I’m grabbing my complimentary Mexican mocha.
Focus Features - Once I received a $10 coupon for their merch store and got the Shaun of the Dead soundtrack on red vinyl for $15. Not sure if that is still happening?
Urban Farmer - Just found out about & signed up for an “annual perk” so not sure what it is and how long I’ll have to redeem it…will report back.
Leach Botanical Garden - Also just discovered this place, which looks lovely + thoughtfully offers a whole birthday month to take advantage of two free entry passes. Hopefully I can pop in sometime next week.
Portland City Grill - With the fantastic view (on clear days), folks celebrating a birthday can also get a slice of chocolate ganache cake. I’d go for that if I hadn’t finally scored a reservation at kann for my night out. #SquealingFoodieNoises
Pretty much everything about me in a tiny dish. …and to all a good [birthday] night.
I’m sure Jesus understands; He’s likely a fellow Virgo anyway.
Loosely defined as “a thing I like and hope you do, too”
It was our Advocacy class, like a homeroom, so this kid wasn’t failing English throughout high school, just stuck with me as his Advo teacher for multiple years.
Again, loose definition according to me
Fun [to me] fact: When I was pulled over for speeding one time and the officer asked why I was going so fast, I replied with a smile, “I guess it’s genetic.” The officer (and my Very Cool Parents) were unimpressed.
Chilling in the literal sense; my skin still shivers thinking about the way he slowly crescendoed the tension into utter horror.
If you really need to weep your eyes out, know that Smith & Carlos were pallbearers at Norman’s funeral in 2006.
#Leo
#Virgo
Yes they are mostly for food so you’ll need to be very deliberate in organizing your day(s) to fit them all in without indigestion.
Interestingly, in that post I also mentioned Mary Lambert, whom I saw in concert again this week!
I do share these with family & friends, promise. And my doctor is keeping an eye on my cholesterol.
Happy Birthday my love.
What a lovely way to share your birthday celebration with us! Happy birthday!!