It feels so good to breathe the air,
Another spin around the sun,
On this speck of light in the universe,
The gift of love is there for everyone.  
– Edwin Ghazal, “Alive” from Another Spin Around the Sun

Birthdays used to be so exciting, they’d keep me up all night and I couldn’t sleep.  I guess it is normal for old age to take the shine off birthdays.  I’ve had over 50 of them, and some…tend to just blur together.   That’s normal, though I wish birthdays still carried that childhood manic excitement.  Waiting for guests to arrive…mom popping a pizza in the oven…unwrapping loads of gifts…playing games.  Nowadays it’s more like, “Let me find a comfy chair.”

Last year, I wasn’t in a good place though I didn’t really realize it.  There was a lot of work anxiety, but that’s not unusual.  What was unusual was that I didn’t want to celebrate or acknowledge my birthday last year.  I didn’t get that, which is good in hindsight, but I was adamant about it.  No celebration, no acknowledgement.  I think one of the big reasons I was in that hole last year was because my grandma just had her 101st birthday and it wasn’t good.  We saw her on her birthday and she asked for her sister Marie, who has been gone for over 10 years.  I knew she didn’t have long to go.  When people at that stage of life start seeing people that are gone, it’s because they’re slowly going too.   I didn’t want to celebrate my own birthday and I think that’s why.  I didn’t want to celebrate with that hanging over us…and I didn’t want to celebrate my own advancement.

I miss my grandma but it really does feel like she’s been gone a long time already.  When she finally did go at the end of July 2025, she was ready.  The funeral was a place of healing, laughing and remembering only the good things.  I think we all began to bounce back a little bit after the funeral.  Even though this is my first birthday without her, I know she’d be thinking of me and calling me if she were here.  She’d probably write me a cheque and a card saying “Use this to buy one of your CD records, love Grammie.”

So here I am after yet another spin around the sun, and in a better place than last year.  This year, I’ll celebrate with family and enjoy some nostalgia.  I’ve already watched The Last Starfighter, which I have associated with my birthday since its 1984 release.  (I didn’t see it for my birthday, but I saw it 10 days later with Bob Schipper for his birthday.)  Some Transformers have come in the mail, and they always remind me of my birthday in 1984 (and ’85 and ’86).  The toyline and Marvel comic debuted in 1984, and I was collecting the limited series at around the same time that Bob was collecting The Last Starfighter comic series.  So what did I do?  I ordered myself a reprint of The Last Starfighter comic to enjoy on my birthday this year.  Tonight will be family dinner, and I can order in whatever I want.  I think I’m also going to McDonalds to grab a couple sundaes.

Music is always important on my birthday.  So many new albums came my way over birthdays past that I could never remember them all.   My beloved Uncle Paul was always concerned with making sure I liked my new albums.  I would rip open my gifts, and then grab a Walkman so I could listen to a new tape while the adults had wine and beer.   My Uncle would sit next to me.  “Do you like it?  Is it good?”  Every once in a while I would find a song I thought he would like.  Back then, my music collection was small but growing.  There were always albums people could buy me.  My sister would look through my tape collection and take note of which albums I was missing.  Usually though, I would get new releases on my birthday.  There were always lots of new releases in the summer.

While the old birthdays are the most memorable (I can remember sitting on my Uncle’s cottage porch in 1984 with my new toys and tapes), the recent ones have been pretty special too.  2024 especially.  That was the year Jex threw me a surprise.

Jex Russell is a newer friend compared to Bob Schipper, but what he did in 2024 is probably the most memorable birthday present I’m ever likely to receive.  Somehow, some way, he gathered birthday greeting videos from my family, friends, and even rock stars and authors I love.  Martin Popoff called me a “Canadian treasure” and my jaw hit the floor.  Tom Brislin from Kansas said happy birthday.  It took a hell of a lot of effort, but what resulted was the best, most personal, most memorable birthday gift I’ve ever received.

Even though aging is an adventure of its own, and despite the fact that the world gets a little shittier year after year, it feels so good to breathe the air.  Another spin around the sun, on this speck of light in the universe.  The gift of love is there for everyone.  I love you, my friends.  Though a long nap is in my future today, rest assured I’ll rock a little, roll a little, and eat a lot.  Thank you, all of you.  Sincerely.

 

1984

• Michael Jackson – Thriller
• Culture Club – Colour By Numbers
• Transformers – Skywarp and Windcharger – my very very first two!
• MOVIE:  Saw The Last Starfighter for Bob’s birthday.

1985

• Transformers – Slag (Dinobot)
• GI Joe Dragonfly, Cobra A.S.P.

1987

• All four KISS solo albums
• Ace Frehley – Frehley’s Comet
• Ozzy Osbourne – Tribute
• AC/DC – Who Made Who
• MOVIE:  Saw Spaceballs for my birthday.

1988

• Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden
• Ace Frehley – Second Sighting
• Judas Priest – Ram It Down
• Scorpions – Savage Amusement

1989

• The Cult – Sonic Temple
• Kim Mitchell – Rockland

1990

• MOVIE:  Saw Total Recall for my birthday.

1991

• Extreme – Pornograffitti
• Van Halen – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (two copies!)

1992

• Queensryche – “Anybody Listening?” CD single
• The Cult – Live at the Lyceum cassette
• Faith No More – Angel Dust

1993

• Spock shirt
• Ozzy Osbourne – Live & Loud (grille cover)

1994

• Alice Cooper – The Last Temptation
• Alice Cooper – Nobody Likes Me

1999

• The entire Max Webster studio album discography

2001

• The complete Stanley Kubrick DVD collection
• Dude, Where’s My Car? DVD

2024

• Jex’s video – with birthday greetings from:
  • Jex Russell
  • John Clauser, performing an acoustic version of “Grab A Stack of Rock”
  • Rob Daniels from Visions in Sound, with some kind words that hit me in the heart
  • Aaron Stewart of the KMA
  • Harrison Kopp with Lego art
  • Uncle Meat with some comments that left me head over heels…
  • Martin Popoff with some more kind words that left my jaw on the floor
  • Dr. Kathryn Ladano (with Molli, Daisi, Winston and Bruce)
  • Grant Arthur from the Rock Warehaus with good advice
  • Metal Roger with metal vocals
  • Todd Evans of the Contrarians to grab a stack of cake
  • Tom Brislin, keyboard player from Kansas
  • Jen Ladano right from the bowling alley
  • D’Arcy Briggs from darcyska on YouTube!
  • Marco D’Auria with a funny name mix-up and more kind words that I don’t think I deserve
  • Brent “the Doctor” Doerner of Helix to grab a stack of beer
  • Steve Deluxe and some wise words about B-sides
  • Tim Durling, who helped connect some of these people with Jex
  • Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation with a pretty excellent vocal performance
  • Chris Preston of MyRockandRollHeaven on Twitter
  • My Aunt Lynda and cousin Geoff with embarrassing stories
  • Matt Phillips of GoNorth Design, with a custom Lego Stratocaster
  • My mom and dad

2026

• John Clease tickets + meet & greet