A Birthday Moment of the the Day (MOD)

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It came to me on a trail run - like so many other brilliant, quickly forgotten ideas. The sun was setting, the night was warm, my moto was running beautifully, and it was the eve of my birthday. I was motoring into an early morning start for a long weekend of travel and racing at the US Outrigger Championships down in Newport Beach and wanted to celebrate the day but without any big to-do about it. (Also known as too much drinking, too much food, or too many variables for any number of late night activities.)

So I crafted an email to friends and family asking people to celebrate the upcoming day with me in their own unique way, letting 48 be the guiding factor. There was a bunch of emotionally inspired verbiage, a lot of loves thrown around, and a dream birthday montage that went something like this: we'd all be living within a 1 mile radius and I'd have a super sweet party and my parents would roll out the motorcycle I always wanted and the Foo Fighters would play and we'd have kegs of Marin Headlands beer donated and the best dance party DJ ever and Joe Manganiello would be my forever boyfriend and we'd all ride home on unicorns and there would be no such thing as a hangover.

And then I put it out into the world and went to bed, forgetting, of course, that I'd neglected to mention ANYTHING about snow in my montage which would occur to me in the middle of the night.

But despite this glaring omission, a rather remarkable birthday unfolded - scattered throughout with a few dozen gifts sent via email and text, USPS and facebook - all focused around the "completely random" number of 48. 


48 in the Tesla, deft maneuvering to hit the number AND capture it

48 minute run and AMRAP 50 meter swim on :48 second clock in Alameda
48 breath Metta meditation facing Marin coastline
48 minutes of spinning
48 minute run 
4.8 oz of whiskey (repeat) in New York

THE most awesome Scrabble Play of the Day from New Jersey!

My very own DVD of 48 Hours from Oregon!

The smallest number 48
48 finger snaps in Walnut Creek
$48 donated to White Knot (a charity supported by Dave Grohl)
48 kisses in San Francisco
48 push-ups, 48 burpees, 48 jumping jacks, 48 sit-ups and 48 minutes on the stairmaster in Redwood City

48 minute attempt at listening to Foo Fighters in SF (failed)

48 push-ups and 4.8 oz of wine (give or take) from Atlanta
24 minutes on the bike (x2) in New York
48 minutes in the pool in Salt Lake
48 sit-ups and 48 dark chocolate-almond cookies
4:48 text wishing me happy birthday from Mexico
48 something with a dog (as yet to be confirmed) from SoCal

48 second plank in the Presidio

48 pink cupcakes in Corte Madera
 $48 donated to the Junior Giants
48 swim strokes in Keauhou Bay, Hawaii in the rain in my honor
48 minutes of power walking in New York
48 squats OR 48 push-ups (as yet to be confirmed)

48 goldfish and my nephew eating in my honor in Pasadena


4 pullups, 8 pushups from a sick but always game Flash Gordon in Colorado

48 tiny baby claps with my niece in New Jersey
48 adjectives to describe me including favoritest but also pointed (double true)
48 unbroken push-ups (so he says) from Pasadena
48 OMGs in Illinois
1 dessert with 48 bazillion calories per square inch
48 pushups and a selfie bonus

Beers and pies in Wisconsin

Peppermint patties and flowers in Vermont
48 burpees
48 walking lunges, 48 sit-ups, 48 squats, 48 reverse lunges, and 48 side-to-side jumps
48 oz of beer OR 48 sit-ups (as yet to be confirmed) in Dublin, CA
48 counts while holding breath while singing in head "What's the Frequency, Kenneth" which is about Dan Rather who hosted 48 Hours
48 oz of beer at a Vanderbilt game in Nashville
48 beach artwork at the Jersey shore!
Gratuitous footage of my niece saying Sammy. Or Salmon, which is close enough.

And without really considering it, I'd created a day that gave me back tenfold what I'd asked for. That people important to me had purposefully planned moments that captured their idea of acknowledging 48 helping me celebrate me which meant me celebrating me in relation to so many of the people and moments that brought me here. It also showed a lot of creativity and a heavy skew towards things I love. I'd expect nothing less from you fine folks.

So thanks to all of you who helped make the day so special, even to those who just called or sent back a note saying Happy Birthday, it was appreciated. It's not always comfortable to put yourself out there in the spotlight and say, I want attention, dammit. Honestly, it's really not my thing unless of course I'm going for the laugh and then yes, notice me. Or if I've taken the time to blow-dry my hair. Or have a cute new outfit on. Or grown up shoes. Or my butt looks toned. In all cases then yes, you may notice me.

Anyway, it was a terrific birthday and if you must know, it did end with a few good beers and burgers with friends at Marin Brewery with opening night of the NFL season on the TV. Not late, not excessive, just what I wanted. Thanks for coming out, thanks for the love, and thanks for the smiles on my birthday.

Comments

Olivia Penne said…
this is so fabulous!
you are so fabulous!
your friends are so fabulous!
How much fun can a birthday be :)
5:18 PM
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